Polypeptide shaving transgalactosylating activity

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to polypeptides, specifically polypeptides having transgalactosylating activity and nucleic acids encoding these, and their uses in e.g. dairy product.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to polypeptides, specifically polypeptideshaving transgalactosylating activity and nucleic acids encoding these,and their uses in e.g. dairy product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) are carbohydrates which are nondigestablein humans and animals comprising two or more galactose molecules,typically up to nine, linked by glycosidic bonds. GOS's may also includeone or more glucose molecules. One of the beneficial effects of GOS's istheir ability of acting as prebiotic compounds by selectivelystimulating the proliferation of beneficial colonic microorganisms suchas bacteria to give physlologicai benefits to the consumer. Theestablished health effects have resulted in a growing interest In GOSsas food ingredients for various types of food.

The enzyme β-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) usually hydrolyses lactose tothe monosaccharides D-glucose and D-galactose. In the normal enzymereaction of β-galactosidases, the enzyme hydrolyses lactose andtransiently binds the galactose monosaccharide in a galactose-enzymecomplex that transfers galactose to the hydroxyl group of water,resulting in the liberation of D-galactose and D-glucose. However, athigh lactose concentrations some β-galactosidases are able to transfergalactose to the hydroxyl groups of D-galactose or D-glucose in aprocess called transgalactosylation whereby galacto-oligosaccharides areproduced.

The genus Bifidobacterium is one of the most commonly used types ofbacteria cultures in the dairy industry for fermenting a variety ofdiary products. Ingestion of Bifidobacterium-containing productsfurthermore has a health-promoting effect. This effect is not onlyachieved by a lowered pH of the intestinal contents but also by theability of Bifidobacterium to repopulate the intestinal flora inindividuals who have had their intestinal flora disturbed by for exampleintake of antibiotics. Bifidobacterium furthermore has the potential ofoutcompeting potential harmful intestinal micro-organisms.

Galacto-oligosaccharides are known to enhance the growth ofBifidobacterium. This effect is likely achieved through the uniqueability of Bifidobacterium to exploit galacto-oilgosaccharides as acarbon source. Dietary supplement of dalacto-oligosaccharides isfurthermore thought to have a number of long-term disease protectingeffects. For example, galacto-oligosaccharide intake has been shown tobe highly protective against development of colorectal cancer in rats.There is therefore a great interest in developing cheap and efficientmethods for producing galacto-oligosaccharides for use in the industryfor improving dietary supplements and dairy products.

A beta-galactosidase polypeptide from Ruminococcus/Blautia hanseniihaving 1807 amino acids (having SEQ ID NO: 12) is known from thedatabase UniProt, 24 Nov. 2009, “Subname: Full=Beta-galactosidase”XP002591904 retrieved from EBI accession no. UNIPROT:C9LAL1.

A glycosidase having 1768 amino acids (having SEQ ID NO: 13) is knownfrom the database UniProt, 14 Oct. 2008, “Subname: Full=Putativeuncharacterised protein” XP002610554 retrieved from EBI accession no.UNIPROT:B5CQV4.

An extracellular lactase from Bifidobacterium bificium DSM20215truncated with approximately 580 amino acids (BIF3) has been describedas a transgalactosylating enzyme in a solution containing lactosesolubilised in water (Jørgensen et al. (2001), Appl. Microbiol.Biotechnol., 57: 647-652). In WO 2009/071539 a differently truncatedfragment compared to BIF3 is described as resulting in efficienthydrolysis and very low production of GOS when tested in milk.

The Bifidobacterium bifidum lactase enzymes described above have thedrawback of either requiring high lactose concentrations in order toexhibit transgalactosylase activity or pre-dominantly havingbeta-galactosylase (hydrolase) activity.

There is still a need to develop enzymes that are efficient at producingGOS and which furthermore can work at low lactose substrate levels suchas in milk.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of embodiments of the invention to provide a polypeptidewhich has a useful ratio of transgalactosylation to hydrolysis activityand thus are efficient producers of GOS when incubated with lactose evenat low lactose levels such as in a milk-based product. It is a furtherobject of embodiments of the invention to provide a method forproduction of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) in situ in dairy products.It is a further object of embodiments of the invention to provide amethod for developing a cheaper and more efficient method for productionof galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) for use in the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses two related polypeptides, whichsurprisingly are able to produce gal acto-oligosaccharidesin situ whenincubated with lactose such as milk. Thus, when the polypeptide, asdescribed herein, or a host cell expressing the polypeptide is incubatedwith lactose under appropriate conditions, galacto-oligosaccharides areproduced at a high efficiency and thus lactose is reduced. The presenceof galacto-oligosaccharides diary products or other comestible productshas the advantage of enhancing the growth of healthpromotingBifdobacterium sp. in the product or in the intestinal flora of theconsumer after intake of the product or both.

In one aspect, the invention relates to an isolated polypeptide havingtransgalactosylating activity selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   a. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at        least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1,    -   b. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at        least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2,    -   c. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes        under at least low stringency conditions with i) the nucleic        acid sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO: 10 encoding the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; ii) the cDNA sequence of i) or iii)        the complementary strand of i) or ii);    -   d. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes        under at least low stringency conditions with i) the nucleic        acid sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO: 11 encoding the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; ii) the cDNA sequence of i) or iii)        the complementary strand of i) or ii);    -   e. a polypeptide comprising a conservative substitution,        deletion and/or insertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID        NO: 1, and    -   f. a polypeptide comprising a conservative substitution,        deletion and/or insertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID        NO: 2,        provided that the polypeptide of above items a, c, and e at the        most has a length of 1806 amino acids and provided that the        polypeptide of above items b, d, and f at the most has a length        of 1767 amino acids.

In one aspect, disclosed herein is a method of expressing a polypeptide,the method comprising obtaining a cell as disclosed herein andexpressing the polypeptide from the cell, and optionally purifying thepolypeptide. In a further aspect, disclosed herein is a compositioncomprising a polypeptkie as disclosed herein, preferably a foodcomposition, more preferably a dairy product. In a further aspect,disclosed herein is a method for producing a food product by treating asubstrate comprising lactose with a polypeptide as disclosed herein suchas producing a dairy product by treating a milk-based substratecomprising lactose with a polypeptide as disclosed herein. In a furtheraspect, the polypeptides are used for treating a substrate with ahydrolysing beta-galactosidase. In a further aspect, disclosed herein isa food product, preferably a dairy product, comprising atransgalactosylating enzyme obtained from Ruminococcus hansenii orRuminococcus lactaris, preferably as defined in item a-f in above, andmore preferably a polypeptide as further defined herein. In yet anaspect, disclosed herein is a galacto-oligosaccharide or compositionthereof obtained by treating a substrate comprising lactose with apolypeptide as disclosed herein.

In one aspect, a polypeptide having transoalactosylating activitycomprising an amino add sequence having

-   -   a. at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or    -   b. at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 2, is provided.

In another aspect, a polypeptide having a ratio of transgalactosyltingactivity: β-galactosidase activity of at least 1 as measured at aconcentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37° C. and 5 w/w %lactose after 30 minutes reaction comprising an amino add sequencehaving

-   -   a. at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or    -   b. at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 2, is provided.

In a further aspect, a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequencehaving at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 5, is provided. In a further aspect, a polypeptide comprising anamino acid sequence having at least 94% sequence identity to the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8, is provided. In a further aspect, the useof a polypeptide having transgalactosylating activity comprising anamino acid sequence having at least 60% sequence identity to the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 for producing galacto-oligosaccharides, isprovided. In a further aspect, the use of a polypeptide havingtransgalactosylating activity comprising an amino acid sequence havingat least 94% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 for producing galacto-oligosaccharides, is provided.

In a further aspect, the use of a polypeptide havingtransgalactosylating activity comprising an amino acid sequence having

-   -   a. at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 3,    -   b. at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 4,    -   c. at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 6, or    -   d. at least 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: for producing galacto-oligosaccharides, is provided.

In a further aspect, a polypeptide having a ratio oftransgalactosylating activity:β-galactosidase activity of at least I asmeasured at a concentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37° C.and 5 w/w % lactose after 30 minutes reaction, is provided. In a furtheraspect, a nucleic acid capable of encoding a polypeptide as disclosedherein, is provided. In a further aspect, a plasmid comprising a nucleicacid as disclosed herein, is provided. In a further aspect, anexpression vector comprising a nucleic acid as disclosed herein, orcapable of expressing a polypeptide as disclosed herein, is provided. Ina further aspect, a host cell comprising, preferably transformed with, aplasmid as disclosed herein, or an expression vector as disclosedherein, is provided. In a further aspect, a cell capable of expressing apolypeptide as disclosed herein, is provided. In a further aspect, amethod of expressing a polypeptide, the method comprising obtaining ahost cell or a cell as disclosed herein and expressing the polypeptidefrom the cell or host cell, and optionally purifying the polypeptide, isprovided. In a further aspect, a composition comprising a polypeptide asdisclosed herein and a stabilizer, is provided. In a further aspect, acomposition comprising a polypeptide as disclosed herein and acarbohydrate substrate, is provided. In a further aspect, a method forproducing a dairy product by treating a milk-based substrate comprisinglactose with a polypeptide having a ratio of transgalactosylatingactivity:β-galactosidase activity of at least 1, at least 2,5, at least3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least9, at least 10, at least 11, or at least 12 as measured at aconcentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37° C. and 5 w/w %lactose after 30 minutes reaction is provided. In a further aspect, amethod for producing a dairy product by treating a milk-based substratecomprising lactose with a polypeptide as disclosed herein, is provided.In a further aspect, a use of a cell as disclosed herein for producing aproduct selected from the group consisting of yoghurt, cheese, fermentedmilk product, dietary supplement and probiotic comestible product, isprovided. In a further aspect, a dairy product comprising a cell asdisclosed herein, is provided. In a further aspect, a dairy productcomprising a polypeptide as disclosed herein, is provided. In a furtheraspect, a dairy product comprising a polypeptide as disclosed herein ina concentration of 001-1000 ppm, is provided. In a further aspect, adairy product comprising an inactivated polypeptide as disclosed herein,is provided. In a further aspect, a dairy product comprising CCS formedin situ by a polypeptide as disclosed herein, is provided. In a furtheraspect, a use of a transgalactosylating polypeptide as disclosed hereinor a cell as disclosed herein for producing galacto-oligosaccharides, isprovided. In a further aspect, a use of a transgalactosylatingpolypeptide as disclosed herein or a cell as disclosed herein, forproducing galacto-oligosaccharides to be part of a product selected fromthe group consisting of yoghurt, cheese, fermented dairy products,dietary supplements and probiotic comestible products, is provided. In afurther aspect, a use of a transgalactosylating polypeptide as disclosedherein or a cell as disclosed herein, for producinggalacto-oligosaccharides to enhance the growth of Bifidobacterium, isprovided. In a further aspect, a use of a transgalactosylatingpolypeptide as disclosed herein or a cell as disclosed herein, forproducing galacto-oligosaccharides to enhance the growth ofBifidobacterium in a mixed culture fermentation, is provided. In afurther aspect, a process for producing a transgalactosylatingpolypeptide as disclosed herein, comprising culturing a cell asdisclosed herein in a suitable culture medium under conditionspermitting expression of said polypeptide, and recovering the resultingpolypeptide from the culture, is provided. In a further aspect, aprocess for producing galacto-oligosaccharides, comprising contacting ofan polypeptide as disclosed herein or a cell as disclosed herein with amilk-based solution comprising lactose.

SEQUENCE LISTING

SEQ ID NO: 1 is a 1125 amino acid truncated fragment of SEQ ID NO: 12.

SEQ ID NO: 2 is 1150 amino acid truncated fragment of SEQ ID NO: 13.

SEQ ID NO: 3 is amino acid residues 559-649 of SEQ ID No: 1.

SEQ ID NO: 4 is amino acid residues 579-649 of SEQ ID No: 1.

SEQ ID NO: 5 is amino acid residues 579-636 of SEQ ID No: 1.

SEQ ID NO: 6 is amino acid residues 575-665 of SEQ ID No: 2.

SEQ ID NO: 7 is amino acid residues 594-665 of SEQ ID No: 2.

SEQ ID NO: 8 is amino acid residues 594-652 of SEQ ID No: 2.

SEQ ID NO: 9 is a signal peptide from the pBN Bacillus subtilisexpression vector.

SEQ ID NO: 10 is the nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 1 includingsequence encoding the signal peptide.

SEQ ID NO: 11 is the nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 includingsequence encoding the signal peptide.

SEQ ID NO: 12 is a beta-galactosidase from Ruminococcus/Blautia hanseniiDSM 20583.

SEQ ID NO: 13 is a glycosidase from Ruminococcus lactaris, ATCC 29176.

SEQ ID NO: 14 is the nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 12 withoutthe signal sequence.

SEQ ID NO: 15 is the nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 13 withoutthe signal sequence.

SEQ ID NO: 16 is the nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 1.

SEQ ID NO: 17 is the nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 2.

LEGENDS TO THE FIGURE

FIG. 1 shows a plasmid map of the Ruminococcus hansenii expressionconstruct. The rhBIF3d3 coding sequence was fused inframe with the aprEsignal sequence using BssHII and PacI as restriction sites.

FIG. 2 shows accumulation of galactose and glucose during enzymatictreatment of a 5% w/w lactose solution in T-buffer with Lactozym® ascontrol, Ruminococcus hansenii (SEQ ID NO: 1), Ruminococcus lactaris(SEQ ID NO:2) and Bifidobacterium bifidum BIF3d3 (truncated) (asdescribed by Jørgensen et al. (2001), Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 57:647-652 and EP patent 1,283,876).

FIG. 3 shows the result of Thin Layer Chromatography of the polypeptidesin 9 w/w % reconstituted milk giving a final concentration of lactose of5% w/w. The polypeptides were dosed based upon the LAU activitydetermined as described in example 1 at a final concentration of 6LAU/ml.

FIG. 4 shows the results of the anion exchange chromatography ofvariants of the Ruminococcus hansenii (SEQ ID NO:1). The gel is aNu-PAGE 4-12% acrylamide gel stained with coomassie brilliant bluestaining.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is an isolated polypeptide having transgalactosylatingactivity selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   a. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at        least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1,    -   b. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at        least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2,    -   c. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes        under at least low stringency conditions with i) the nucleic        acid sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO: 10 encoding the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; ii) the cDNA sequence of i) or iii)        the complementary strand of i) or ii);    -   d. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes        under at least low stringency conditions with i) the nucleic        acid sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO: 11 encoding the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; ii) the cDNA sequence of i) or iii)        the complementary strand of i) or ii);    -   e. a polypeptide comprising a conservative substitution,        deletion and/or insertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID        NO: 1, and    -   f. a polypeptide comprising a conservative substitution,        deletion and/or insertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID        NO: 2,        provided that the polypeptide of above items a, c, and e at the        most has a length of 1806 amino acids and provided that the        polypeptide of above items b, d, and f at the most has a length        of 1767 amino acids.

In accordance with this detailed description, the followingabbreviations and definitions apply; It should be noted that as usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referentsunless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example,reference to “an polypeptide” includes a plurality of such polypeptides,and reference to “the formulation” includes reference to one or moreformulations and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art,and so forth.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art. The following terms are provided below.

“Transgalactosylase” means an enzyme that, among other things, is ableto transfer galactose to the hydroxyl groups of D-galactose or D-glucosewhereby galacto-oligosaccharides are produced. In one aspect, atransgalactosylase is identified by reaction of the enzyme on lactose inwhich the amount of galactose generated is less than the amount ofglucose generated at any given time.

In the present context, the term “transgalactosylating activity” meansthe transfer of a galactose moiety to a molecule other than water and ismeasured as [glucose]-[galactose] generated at any given time duringreaction.

In the present context the term “β-galactosidase activity” means theability of an enzyme to hydrolyse β-galactosides such as for examplelactose into monosaccharides, glucose and galactose.

In the present context, the term “relative transgalactosylationactivity” means ([Glucose]-[Galactose]100)/[Glucose]) measured at atimepoint after 15 minutes of reaction time.

In the present context, the term [Glucose] means the glucoseconcentration in % by weight as measured by HPLC.

In the present context, the term [Galactose] means the galactoseconcentration in % by weight as measured by HPLC.

In the present context, the term “after 15 min. reaction” means theamount of time which should pass before measurement of activity afterincubation with the herein described polypeptide in an assay.

In one aspect, the activity is measured after 15 min. reaction, 30 min.reaction, 60 min. reaction, 90 min. reaction, 120 min. reaction or 180min. reaction. Thus in one aspect, as an example the relativetransgalactosylation activity is measured 15 minutes after addition ofenzyme, such as 30 minutes after addition of enzyme, such as 60 minutesafter addition of enzyme, such as 90 minutes after addition of enzyme,such as 120 minutes after addition of enzyme or such as 180 minutesafter addition of enzyme.

In the present context, the term “ratio of transgalactosylatingactivity; β-galactosidase activity” means([Glucose]-[Galactose]/[Galactose]).

In the present context, the term “lactose has been transgalactosylated”means that a galactose molecule has been covalently linked to thelactose molecule such as for example covalently linked to any of thefree hydroxyl groups in the lactose molecule or as generated by internaltransgalatosylation for example forming allolactose.

In the present context, the term “milk-based assay” means an assayperformed in milk, reconstituted milk or solutions containing main milkconstituents such as for example lactose. In one embodiment, amilk-based assay is performed by preparing samples in 9% reconstitutedmilk from skimmed milk powder (such as e.g. Humana Milk Union, DE NW508EG) giving a final concentration of lactose of 5% w/w. Enzymes are dosedbased upon the LAU activity determined as described below giving thedesired final concentration in LAU/ml.

A sample is taken prior to addition of enzyme and additional samples aretaken at indicated time points and the enzymes are immediatelyinactivated by incubating at 95° C. for 10 minutes. Samples are diluted1:10 and 2 μL are applied onto activated (161° C. for 10 min) HPTLCsilica gel 60 (Merck Cat#1.05541.0001) plates with a CAMAG Automatic TLCSampler 4. The TLC plates are eluted with an eluent containing (80)Acetonitril: (20) Ethylacetat: (50) 1-Propanok (40) Water. Samples arevisualised by heating (161° C. for 10 min) and allowed to cool downbefore soaking in 5% w/w H2SO4 in 99.9% w/w ethanol. Plates aredeveloped with heating 161° C. for 3 min.

In one aspect, such an assay is as described in example 3.

In the context of the present application, 1 lactase unit (1 LAU) is theamount of enzyme which releases 1 micromole glucose per minute inM-buffer at pH 6.5 and 37° C. with a lactase concentration of 4.75% w/v.M-buffer is prepared by dissolving 3.98 g C₆H₅Na₃0₇-5 2H₂0, 8.31 gcitric acid, 0.9 g K₂S0₄, 2.6 g K₂HP0₄, 7.35 g KH₂P0₄, 5.45 g KOH, 4.15g, MgCl₂ 6H₂0, 3.75 g CaCl2 2H₂0 and 1.4 g NaHCO₃ in 4 litre water,adding 12.5 ml 4N NaOH, adjusting to pH 6.5 using HCI, and adding waterup to a total volume of 5 litre.

The activity in LAU of a specific lactase may be determined by directmeasurement of glucose released from lactose under the conditionsdescribed above. The skilled person will know how to determine suchactivity. Alternatively, the activity may be determined by using thelactase activity assay described in Example 1 of the presentapplication. Here, the activity is obtained by comparing to a standardcurve with a lactase of known activity, and the activity of the unknownsample calculated from this. The lactase of known activity may e.g., beLactozym obtained from Novozymes A/S, Denmark.

In the present context, the term “which polypeptide is freeze-dried”means that the polypeptide has been obtained by freeze-drying a liquidof the polypeptide at an appropriate pressure and for an appropriateperiod removing the water.

In the present context, the term “which polypeptide is in solution”relates to a polypeptide which is soluble in a solvent withoutprecipitating out of solution. A solvent for this purpose includes anymillieu in which the polypeptide may occur, such as an aqueous buffer orsalt solution, a fermentation broth, or the cytoplasm of an expressionhost.

In the present context, the term “stabilizer” means any stabilizer forstabilizing the polypeptide e.g., a polyol such as e.g., glycerol orpropylene glycol, a sugar or a sugar alcohol, lactic acid, boric add, ora boric acid derivative (e.g., an aromatic borate ester). In one aspect,the stabilizer is glycerol.

In the present context, the term “carbohydrate substrate” means anorganic compound with the genera; formula C_(m)(H₂O) _(n), that is,consisting only of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, the last two in the 2:1atom ratio such as a disaccharide.

In the present context, the term “disaccharide” is two monosaccharideunits bound together by a covalent bond known as a olycosidic linkageformed via a dehydration reaction, resulting in the loss of a hydrogenatom from one monosaccharide and a hydroxyl group from the other. Theformula of unmodified disaccharides is C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁. In one aspect, thedisaccharide is lactulose, trehalose, rhamnose, maltose, sucrose,lactose, or celloblose. In a further aspect, the disaccharide islactose.

The term “isolated” means that the sequence is at least substantiallyfree from at least one other component with which the sequence isnaturally associated in nature and as found in nature. In one aspect,“isolated polypeptide” as used herein refers to a polypeptide which isat least 30% pure, at least 40% pure, at least 60% pure, at least 80%pure, at least 90% pure, and at least 95% pure, as determined bySDS-PAGE.

The term “substantially pure polypeptide” means herein a polypeptidepreparation which contains at most 10%, preferably at most 8%, morepreferably at most 6%, more preferably at most 5%, more preferably atmost 4%, at most 3%, even more preferably at most 2%, most preferably atmost 1%, and even most preferably at most 0.5% by weight of otherpolypeptide material with which it is natively associated. It is,therefore, preferred that the substantially pure polypeptide is at least92% pure, preferably at least 94% pure, more preferably at least 95%pure, more preferably at least 96% pure, more preferably at least 96%pure, more preferably at least 97% pure, more preferably at least 98%pure, even more preferably at least 99%, most preferably at least 99.5%pure, and even most preferably 100% pure by weight of the totalpolypeptide material present in the preparation. The polypeptidesdisclosed herein are preferably in a substantially pure form. Inparticular, it is preferred that the polypeptides are in “essentiallypure form”, i.e., that the polypeptide preparation is essentially freeof other polypeptide material with which it is natively associated. Thiscan be accomplished, for example, by preparing the polypeptide by meansof well-known recombinant methods or by classical purification methods.Herein, the term “substantially pure polypeptide” is synonymous with theterms “isolated polypeptide” and “polypeptide in isolated form.”

The term “purified” or “pure” means that a given component is present ata high level state—e.g. at least about 51% pure, or at least about 75%,or at least about 80%, or at least about 90% pure, or at least about 95%pure or at least about 98% pure. The component is desirably thepredominant active component present in a composition.

The term “microorganism” in relation to the present invention includesany microorganism that could comprise a nucleotide sequence according tothe present invention or a nucleotide sequence encoding for apolypeptide having the specific properties as defined herein and/orproducts obtained therefrom.

In the present context, “microorganism” may include any bacterium orfungus being able to ferment a milk substrate.

The term “host cell”—in relation to the present invention includes anycell that comprises either a nucleotide, sequence encoding a polypeptidehaving the specific properties as defined herein or an expression vectoras described above and which is used in the production of a polypeptidehaving the specific properties as defined herein. In one aspect, theproduction is recombinant production.

The term “milk”, in the context of the present invention, is to beunderstood as the lacteal secretion obtained from any mammal, such ascows, sheep, goats, buffaloes or camels.

In the present context, the term “milk-based substrate” means any rawand/or processed milk material or a material derived from milkconstituents. Useful milk-based substrates include, but are not limitedto solutions/suspensions of any milk or milk. like products comprisinglactose, such as whole or low fat milk, skim milk, buttermilk,reconstituted milk powder, condensed milk, solutions of dried milk, UHTmilk, whey, whey permeate, acid whey, or cream. Preferably, themilk-based substrate is milk or an aqueous solution of skim milk,powder. The milk-based substrate may be more concentrated than raw milk.In one embodiment, the milk-based substrate has a ratio of protein tolactose of at least 0.2, preferably at least 0.3, at east 0.4, at east0.5, at least 0.5 or, most preferably, at least The milk-based substratemay be homogenized and/or pasteurized according to methods known in theart.

“Homogenizing” as used herein means intensive mixing to obtain a solublesuspension or emulsion. It may be performed so as to break up the milkfat into smaller sizes so that it no longer separates from the milk.This may be accomplished by forcing the milk at high pressure throughsmall orifices.

“Pasteurizing” as used herein means reducing or eliminating the presenceof live organisms, such as microorganisms, in the milk-based substrate.Preferably, pasteurization is attained by maintaining a specifiedtemperature for a specified period of time. The specified temperature isusually attained by heating. The temperature and duration may beselected in order to kill or inactivate certain bacteria, such asharmful bacteria, and/or to inactivate enzymes in the milk. A rapidcooling step may follow.

A “food product” or “food composition” in the context of the presentinvention may be any comestible food or feed product suitable forconsumption by an animal or human.

A “dairy product” in the context of the present invention may be anyfood product wherein one of the major constituents is milk-based.Preferable, the major constituent is milk-based. More preferably, themajor constituent is a milk-based substrate which has been treated withan enzyme having transgalactosylating activity.

In the present context, “one of the major constituents” means aconstituent having a dry matter which constitutes more than 20%,preferably more than 30% or more than 40% of the total dry matter of thedairy product, whereas “the major constituent” means a constituenthaving a dry matter which constitutes more than 50%, preferably morethan 60% or more than 70% of the total dry matter of the dairy product.

A “fermented dairy product” in present context is to be understood asany dairy product wherein any type of fermentation forms part of theproduction process. Examples of fermented dairy products are productslike yoghurt, buttermilk, creme fraiche, quark and fromage frail. Afermented dairy product may be produced by any method known in the art

The term “fermentation” means the conversion of carbohydrates intoalcohols or acids through the action of a microorganism such as astarter culture. In one aspect, fermentation comprises conversion oflactose to lactic acid.

In the present context the term “Pfam domains” means regions within aprotein sequence that are identified as either Pfam-A or Pfam-B based onmultiple sequence alignments and the presence of Hidden Markov Motifs(“The Pfam protein families database”: R. D. Finn, Mistry, Tate, P.Coggill, A. Heger, J. E. Pollington, O. L. Gavin, P, Gunesekaran, G.Ceric, K. Forslund, L. Holm, E. L. Sonnhammer, S. R. Eddy, A. BatemanNucleic Acids Research (2010) Database Issue 38:D211-222.). As examplesof Pfam domains mention may be made of Glyco_hydro2N (PF02837),Glyco_hydro (PF00703), Glyco_hydro 2C (PF02836) and Bacterial Ig-likedomain (group 4) (PF07532).

As used herein “a position corresponding to position” means that analignment as described herein is made between a particular querypolypeptide and the reference polypeptide. The position corresponding toa specific position in the reference polypeptide is then identified asthe corresponding amino acid in the alignment with the highest sequenceidentity.

In one aspect, a polypeptide having transgalactosylating activitycomprising an amino acid sequence having

-   -   a. at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or    -   b. at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 2, is provided.

In one aspect, a polypeptide, wherein the amino acid sequence comprisesat least one or more amino acid residue(s) selected from the followinggroups:

-   -   a. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/N/Q at a position corresponding to position 576 in SEQ ID        NO: 1,    -   b. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/N/Q at a position corresponding to position 588 in SEQ ID        NO: 1,    -   c. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        E/D/Q/N at a position corresponding to position 592 in SEQ ID        NO: 1 and/or    -   d. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/Q/N at a position corresponding to position 625 in SEQ ID        NO: 1, is provided.

In one aspect, a polypeptide, wherein the amino acid sequence comprisesat least one or more amino acid residue(s) selected from the followinggroups:

-   -   a. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/N/Q at a position corresponding to position 592 in SEQ ID        NO: 2,    -   b. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/N/Q at a position corresponding to position 604 in SEQ ID        NO: 2,    -   c. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        E/D/Q/N at a position corresponding to position 608 in SEQ ID        NO: 2 and/or    -   d. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/QIN at a position corresponding to position 641 in SEQ ID        NO: 2, is provided.

It has been found that the amino acid at a position corresponding toposition 576, 588, 592 and 625 in SEQ ID NO:1 and the respective aminoacids at a position corresponding to position 592, 604, 608 and 641 inSEQ ID NO:2 have an effect on the activity of the polypeptides disclosedherein.

In one aspect, disclosed herein is a polypeptide, wherein the amino acidsequence comprises at least one or more acidic amino acid residue(s)such as D or E, in a position corresponding to position 576, 588, 592and 625 in SEQ ID NO:1 or in a position corresponding to position 592,604, 608 and 641 in SEQ ID NO:2,

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a polypeptide havinga ratio of transgalactosylating activity: β-galactosidase activity of atleast 1 as measured at a concentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-based assayat 37° C. and 5 w/w % lactose after 30 minutes reaction comprising anamino acid sequence having

-   -   a. at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or    -   b. at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 2, is provided.

In a further aspect, a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequencehaving at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 5, is provided. In a further aspect, a polypeptide comprising anamino acid sequence having at least 94% sequence identity to the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8, is provided. In a further aspect, the useof a polypeptide having transgalactosylating activity comprising anamino acid sequence having at least 60% sequence identity to the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 for producing galacto-oligosaccharides, isprovided. In a further aspect, the use of a polypeptide havingtransgalactosylating activity comprising an amino acid sequence havingat least 94% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 for producing galacto-oligosaccharides, is provided.

In a further aspect, the use of a polypeptide havingtransgalactosylating activity comprising an amino acid sequence having

-   -   a. at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 3,    -   b. at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 4,    -   c. at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 6, or    -   d. at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 7, for producing galacto-oligosaccharides, is        provided.

In a further aspect, a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequencehaving at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 1, and at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 5, is provided.

In a further aspect, a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequencehaving at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 2, and at least 94% sequence identity to the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 8, is provided.

In a further aspect, a polypeptide containing one or more Pfam domainsselected from: Glyco_hydro2N (PF02837), Glyco_hydro (PF00703),Glyco_hydro 2C (PF02836) and Bacterial Ig-like domain (group 4)(PF07532), is provided. In yet a further aspect, a polypeptidecontaining the Pfam domains Glyco_hydro2N (PF02837), Glyco_hydro(PF00703), Glyco_hydro 2C (PF02836) and Bacterial Ig-like domain (group4) (PF07532), is provided. In yet a further aspect, a polypeptidecontaining the Glyco_hydro2N (PF02837), Glyco_hydro (PF00703), andGlyco_hydro 2C (PF02836) domains which domains constitutes the catalyticdomain of the polypeptide, is provided.

In a further aspect, a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence andhaving a ratio of transgalactosylating activity: β-galactosidaseactivity of at least 1, at least 2.5, at least 3, at least 4, at least5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least11, or at least 12 as measured at a concentration of 6 LAU/ml in amilk-based assay at 37° C. and 5 w/w % lactose after 15 or 30 minutesreaction, is provided. In a further aspect, the polypeptide is derivedfrom Ruminococcus hansenii or Ruminococcus lactaris.

In one aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s) has atransgalactosylating activity such that more than 20%, more than 30%,more than 40%, up to 50% of the initial lactose is transgalactosylatedas measured at a concentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37°C. and 5 w/w % lactose after 30 minutes of reaction.

In a further aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s) has a13-galactosidase activity such that less than 80%, less than 70%, lessthan 60%, less than 50%, less than 40%, less than 30%, less than 20% ofthe lactose has been hydrolysed as measured at a concentration of 6LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37° C. and 5 w/w % lactose after 30minutes of reaction.

In one aspect, the β-galactosidase activity and/or thetransgalactosylating activity are measured at a concentration of 6LAU/ml, 3 LAU/ml or 1 LAU/ml.

In a further aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s) has one or moreof the following characteristics:

-   -   a) a ratio of transgalactosylating activity: β-galactosidase        activity of at least of at least 1, at least 2.5, at least 3, at        least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at east 8, at least        9, at least 10, at least 11, or at least 12 as measured at a        concentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37° C. and 5        w/w % lactose after 30 minutes reaction, and/or    -   b) has a transgalactosylating activity such that more than 20%,        more than 30%, more than 40%, and up to 50% of the initial        lactose has been transgalactosylated as measured at a        concentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37° C. and 5        w/w % lactose after 30 minutes of reaction.

In a further aspect, a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequencehaving at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 5, is provided. In a further aspect, a polypeptide comprising anamino acid sequence having at least 94% sequence identity to the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8, is provided. In yet a further aspect, apolypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 60%sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, isprovided. In yet a further aspect, a polypeptide comprising an aminoacid sequence having at least 60% sequence identity to the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, is provided. In yet a further aspect, apolypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 94%sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, isprovided. In yet a further aspect, a polypeptide comprising an aminoacid sequence having at least 94% sequence identity to the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 7, is provided.

Proteins are generally comprised of one or more functional regions,commonly termed domains. The presence of different domains in varyingcombinations in different proteins gives rise to the diverse repertoireof proteins found in nature. One way of describing the domains are bythe help of the Pfarn database which is a large collection of proteindomain families as described in “The Pfam protein families database”: R.D. Finn, 1 Mistry J. Tate, P. Coggill, A. Heger, J. E. Pollington, O. L.Gavin, P. Gunesekaran, G. Ceric, K. Forslund, L. Holm, E. L. Sonnhammer,S. R. Eddy, A. Bateman Nucleic Acids Research (2010) Database Issue38:D211-222. Each family is represented by multiple sequence alignmentsand hidden Markov models (HMMs). In a further aspect, the presentinventors have found that the herein provided polypeptide(s) containsone or more of the Pfam domains Glyco_hydro2N (PF02837), Glyco_hydro(PF00703), Glyco_hydro 2C (PF02836) and Bacterial Ig-like domain (group4) (PF07532). In one aspect, the herein provided polypeptide(s) containsGlyco_hydro2N (PF02837), Glyco_hydro (PF00703), Glyco_hydro 2C (PF02836)and Bacterial Ig-like domain (group 4) (PF07532).

In one aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s) comprises an aminoacid sequence having an amino acid residue selected from the groupconsisting of D, E, N and Q at a position corresponding to position 576in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s)comprises an amino acid sequence having an amino acid residue selectedfrom the group consisting of D E and N at a position corresponding toposition 576 in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the herein disclosedpolypeptide(s) comprises an amino acid sequence having an amino acidresidue selected from the group consisting of D and E at a positioncorresponding to position 576 in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the hereindisclosed polypeptide(s) comprises an amino acid sequence the amino acidresidue D at a position corresponding to position 576 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

In one aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s) comprises an aminoacid sequence having an amino acid residue selected from the groupconsisting of D, E, N and Q at a position corresponding to position 588in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s)comprises an amino acid sequence having an amino acid residue selectedfrom the group consisting of D, E and N at a position corresponding toposition 588 in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the herein disclosedpolypeptide(s) comprises an amino acid sequence having an amino acidresidue selected from the group consisting of D and E at a positioncorresponding to position 588 in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the hereindisclosed polypeptide(s) comprises an amino acid sequence the amino acidresidue D at a position corresponding to position 588 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

In one aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s) comprises an aminoacid sequence having an amino acid residue selected from the groupconsisting of D, E, N and Q at a position corresponding to position 592in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s)comprises an amino acid sequence having an amino acid residue selectedfrom the group consisting of D, E and Q at a position corresponding toposition 592 in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the herein disclosedpolypeptide(s) comprises an amino acid sequence having an amino acidresidue selected from the group consisting of D and E at a positioncorresponding to position 592 in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the hereindisclosed polypeptide(s) comprises an amino acid sequence the amino acidresidue E at a position corresponding to position 592 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

In one aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s) comprises an aminoacid sequence having an amino acid residue selected from the groupconsisting of D, E, N and Q at a position corresponding to position 625in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptides)comprises an amino acid sequence having an amino acid residue selectedfrom the group consisting of D, E and N at a position corresponding toposition 625 in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the herein disclosedpolypeptide(s) comprises an amino acid sequence having an amino acidresidue selected from the group consisting of D and E at a positioncorresponding to position 625 in SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the hereindisclosed polypeptide(s) comprises an amino acid sequence the amino acidresidue D at a position corresponding to position 625 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

In one aspect, the polypeptides have useful transgalactosylatingactivity over a range of pH of 4-9, such as 5-8, such as 5.5-7.5.

The present invention encompasses polypeptides having a certain degreeof sequence identity or sequence homology with amino acid sequence(s)defined herein or with a polypeptide having the specific propertiesdefined herein. The present invention encompasses, in particular,peptides having a degree of sequence identity with any one of SEQ ID NO:1-8, defined below, or homologues thereof.

In one aspect, the homologous amino acid sequence and/or nucleotidesequence should provide and/or encode a polypeptide which retains thefunctional transgalactosylating activity and/or enhances thetransgalactosylating activity compared to a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1or 2.

In the present context, a homologous sequence is taken to include anamino acid sequence which may be at least 66%, 70%, 75%, 78%, at least80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least97%, at least 98% or at least 99%, identical to the subject sequence.Typically, the homologues will comprise the same active sites etc. asthe subject amino acid sequence. Although homology can also beconsidered in terms of similarity (i.e. amino acid residues havingsimilar chemical properties/functions), in the context of the presentinvention it is preferred to express homology in terms of sequenceidentity.

Sequence identity comparisons can be conducted by eye, or more usually,with the aid of readily available sequence comparison programs. Thesecommercially available computer programs use complex comparisonalgorithms to align two or more sequences that best reflect theevolutionary events that might have led to the difference(s) between thetwo or more sequences. Therefore, these algorithms operate with ascoring system rewarding alignment of identical or similar amino acidsand penalising the insertion of gaps, gap extensions and alignment ofnon-similar amino acids. The scoring system of the comparison algorithmsinclude:

-   -   i) assignment of a penalty score each time a gap is inserted        (gap penalty score),    -   ii) assignment of a penalty score each time an existing gap is        extended with an extra position (extension penalty score),    -   iii) assignment of high scores upon alignment of identical amino        acids, and    -   iv) assignment of variable scores upon alignment of        non-identical amino acids.

Most alignment programs allow the gap penalties to be modified. However,it is preferred to use the default values when using such software forsequence comparisons.

The scores given for alignment of non-identical amino acids are assignedaccording to a scoring matrix also called a substitution matrix. Thescores provided in such substitution matrices are reflecting the factthat the likelihood of one amino acid being substituted with anotherduring evolution varies and depends on the physical/chemical nature ofthe amino acid to be substituted. For example, the likelihood of a polaramino acid being substituted with another polar amino acid is highercompared to being substituted with a hydrophobic amino acid. Therefore,the scoring matrix will assign the highest score for identical aminoacids, lower score for non-identical but similar amino acids and evenlower score for non-identical non-similar amino acids. The mostfrequently used scoring matrices are the PAM matrices (Dayhoff et al.(1978), Jones et al. (1992)), the BLOSUM matrices (Henikoff and Henikoff(1992)) and the Gonnet matrix (Gonnet et al. (1992)).

Suitable computer programs for carrying out such an alignment include,but are not limited to, Vector NTI (Invitrogen Corp.) and the ClustalV,ClustalW and ClustalW2 programs (Higgins DC & Sharp PM (1988), Higginset al. (1992), Thompson et al. (1994), Larkin et al. (2007). A selectionof different alignment tools is available from the ExPASy Proteomicsserver at www.expasy.org. Another example of software that can performsequence alignment is BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool), whichis available from the webpage of National Center for BiotechnologyInformation which can currently be found at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/and which was firstly described in Altschul et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol.215; 403-410.

Once the software has produced an alignment, it is possible to calculate% similarity and % sequence identity. The software typically does thisas part of the sequence comparison and generates a numerical result.

In one embodiment, it is preferred to use the ClustalW software forperforming sequence alignments. Preferably, alignment with ClustalW isperformed with the following parameters for pairwise alignment:

Substitution matrix: Gonnet 250 Gap open penalty: 20 Gap extensionpenalty: 0.2 Gap end penalty: None

ClustalW2 is for example made available on the Internet by the EuropeanBioinformatics Institute at the EMBL-EBI webpage www.ebl.ac.uk undertools—sequence analysis—ClustalW2. Currently, the exact address of theClustalW2 tool is www.ebi.ac.uk/Tools/clustalw2.

In another embodiment, it is preferred to use the program Align X inVector NTI (Invitrogen) for performing sequence alignments. In oneembodiment, Exp10 has been may be used with default settings:

Gap opening penalty: 10

Gap extension penalty: 0.05

Gapseparation penalty range: 8

In a particuiar embodiment, the percentage of identity of one amino acidsequence with, or to, another amino acid sequence is determined by theuse of the score matrix: blosum62mt2 and the VectorNTI Pair wisealignment settings

Settings K-tuple 1 Number of best diagonals 5 Window size 5 Gap Penalty3 Gap opening Penalty 10 Gap extension Penalty 0.1

Thus, the present invention also encompasses variants, homologues andderivatives of any amino acid sequence of a protein or polypeptide asdefined herein, particularly those of SEQ ID NO: 1 or those of SEQ IDNO: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 defined below.

The sequences, particularly those of variants, homologues andderivatives of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 defined below, mayalso have deletions, insertions or substitutions of amino acid residueswhich produce a silent change and result in a functionally equivalentsubstance. Deliberate amino acid substitutions may be made on the basisof similarity in polarity, charge, solubility, hydrophobicity,hydrophilicity, and/or the amphipathic nature of the residues as long asthe secondary binding activity of the substance is retained. Forexample, negatively charged amino acids include aspartic acid andglutamic add; positively charged amino acids include lysine andarginine; and amino acids with uncharged polar head groups havingsimilar hydrophilicity values include leucine, isoleucine, valine,glycine, alanine, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine,phenylalanine, and tyrosine.

The present invention also encompasses conservative substitution(substitution and replacement are both used herein to mean theinterchange of an existing amino acid residue, with an alternativeresidue) that may occur i.e. like-for-like substitution such as basicfor basic, acidic for acidic, polar for polar etc. Non-conservativesubstitution may also occur i.e. from one class of residue to another oralternatively involving the inclusion of unnatural amino acids such asornithine (hereinafter referred to as Z), diaminobutyric acid ornithine(hereinafter referred to as B), norleucine ornithine (hereinafterreferred to as O), pyriylalanine, thienylalanine, naphthylalanine andphenylglycine.

Conservative substitutions that may be made are, for example within thegroups of basic amino acids (Arginine, Lysine and Histidine), acidicamino acids (glutamic acid and aspartic acid), aliphatic amino acids(Alanine, Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine), polar amino acids (Glutamine,Asparagine, Serine, Threonine), aromatic amino acids (Phenylalanine,Tryptophan and Tyrosine), hydroxyl amino acids (Serine, Threonine),large amino acids (Phenylalanine and Tryptophan) and small amino acids(Glycine, Alanine).

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is a polypeptide having the sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a polypeptide variant having at least at least66%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 78%, at least 80%, at least85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98% or at least 99% amino acid sequence identity therewith. In oneembodiment, the polypeptide is a polypeptide having the sequence shownin SEQ ID NO: 1 or a polypeptide variant having at least at least 70%amino acid sequence identity therewith. In one embodiment, thepolypeptide is a polypeptide having the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1or a polypeptide variant having at least at least 75% amino acidsequence identity therewith. In one embodiment, the polypeptide is apolypeptide having the sequence shown SEQ ID NO: 1 or a polypeptidevariant having at least at least 80% amino acid sequence identitytherewith.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is a polypeptide having the sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or a polypeptide variant having at least at least60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 78%, at least80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least97%, at least 98% or at least 99% amino acid sequence identitytherewith.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is a polypeptide having the sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 4 or a polypeptide variant having at least 60%, atleast 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 78%, at least 80%, ateast 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98% or at least 99% amino acid sequence identity therewith.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is a polypeptide having the sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 5 or a polypeptide variant having at least 60%, atleast 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 78%, at least 80%, atleast 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98% or at least 99% amino acid sequence identity therewith.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is a polypeptide having the sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a polypeptide variant having at least 60%, atleast 65%, at least 75%, at least 78%, at least 80%, at least 85%, atleast 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or atleast 99% amino acid sequence identity therewith. In one embodiment, thepolypeptide is a polypeptide having the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2or a polypeptide variant having at least at least 70% amino acidsequence identity therewith. In one embodiment, the polypeptide is apolypeptide having the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a polypeptidevariant having at least at least 75% amino acid sequence identitytherewith. In one embodiment, the polypeptide is a polypeptide havingthe sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a polypeptide variant having atleast at least 80% amino acid sequence identity therewith.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is a polypeptide having the sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 6 or a polypeptide variant having at Beast at least65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least85%, at least 90%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least97%, at least 98% or at least 99% amino acid sequence identitytherewith.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is a polypeptide variant having thesequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 7 or a polypeptide variant having at leastat least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 78%, at least 80% atleast 85%, at least 90%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, atleast 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% amino acid sequence identitytherewith.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is a polypeptide variant having thesequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8 or a polypeptide variant having at leastat east 65% at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 78%, at least 80%, atleast 85%, at least 90%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, atleast 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% amino acid sequence identitytherewith.

In one aspect, the polypeptide sequence used in the present invention isin a purified form.

In one aspect, the polypeptide or protein for use in the presentinvention is in an isolated form.

A “variant” or “variants” refers to either polypeptides or nucleicacids. The term “variant” may be used interchangeably with the term“mutant”. Variants include insertions, substitutions, transversions,truncations, and/or inversions at one or more locations in the aminoacid or nucleotide sequence, respectively. The phrases “variantpolypeptide”, “polypeptide variant”, “polypeptide”, “variant” and“variant enzyme” mean a polypeptide/protein that has an amino acidsequence that either has or comprises the amino acid sequence of or ismodified compared to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, or 5. The variant polypeptides include a polypeptide having acertain percent, e.g., 60%, 65%, 66%, 68%, 70%, 72%, 74%, 76%, 78%, 80%,85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%, of sequenceidentity with SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8. As used herein,“parent enzymes,” “parent sequence,” “parent polypeptide” mean enzymesand polypeptides from which any of the variant polypeptides are based,e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. A “parent nucleic acid” means a nucleic acidsequence encoding the parent polypeptide. The signal sequence of a“variant” may be the same or may differ from the signal sequence of thewild-type Ruminococcus lactaris or Blautia/Ruminococcus hansenii or aBacillus signal peptide or any signal sequence that will secrete thepolypeptide. A variant may be expressed as a fusion protein containing aheterologous polypeptide. For example, the variant can comprise a signalpeptide of another protein or a sequence designed to aid identificationor purification of the expressed fusion protein, such as a His-Tagsequence.

To describe the various variants that are contemplated to be encompassedby the present disclosure, the following nomenclature will be adoptedfor ease of reference. Where the substitution includes a number and aletter, e.g., 592P, then this refers to {position according to thenumbering system/substituted amino acid}. Accordingly, for example, thesubstitution of an amino acid to proline in position592 is designated as592P, Where the substitution includes a letter, a number, and a letter,e.g., D592P, then this refers to {original amino add/position accordingto the numbering system/substituted amino acid}. Accordingly, forexample, the substitution of alanine with proline in position 592 isdesignated as A592P.

Where two or more substitutions are possible at a particular position,this will be designated by contiguous letters, which may optionally beseparated by slash marks “/”, e.g., G303ED or G303E/D.

Position(s) and substitutions are listed with reference to either SEC:ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2. Equivalent positions in another sequence maybe found by aligning this sequence with either SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ IDNO: 2 to find an alignment with the highest percent identity andthereafter determining which amino acid aligns to correspond with anamino acid of a specific position of either SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:2. Such alignment and use of one sequence as a first reference is simplya matter of routine for one of ordinary skill in the art

“Variant nucleic acids” can include sequences that are complementary tosequences that are capable of hybridizing to the nucleotide sequencespresented herein, in particular to SEQ ID NO:10-11. For example, avariant sequence is complementary to sequences capable of hybridizingunder stringent conditions, e.g., 50° C. and 0.2×SSC (1×SSC=0.15 M NaCl,0.015 M sodium citrate, pH 7.0), to the nucleotide sequences presentedherein, in particular to SEQ ID NO: 10-11. More particularly, the termvariant encompasses sequences that are complementary to sequences thatare capable of hybridizing under highly stringent conditions, e.g., 65°C. and 0.1×SSC, to the nucleotide sequences presented herein, inparticular to SEQ ID NO: 10-11. The melting point (Tm) of a variantnucleic acid may be about 1, 2, or 3° C. lower than the Tm of thewild-type nucleic acid.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to isolated polypeptideshaving transgalactosylating activity as stated above which are encodedby polynucleotides which hybridize under very low stringency conditions,preferably low stringency conditions, more preferably medium stringencyconditions, more preferably medium-high stringency conditions, even morepreferably high stringency conditions, and most preferably very highstringency conditions with i) the nucleic acid sequence comprised in SEQID NO: 10 encoding the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; the cDNAsequence of i) or iii) the complementary strand of i) or ii) or with i)the nucleic acid sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO: 11 encoding the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; ii) the cDNA sequence of i) or iii) thecomplementary strand of i) or ii); (J. Sambrook,. E. F. Fritsch, and T.Maniatis, 1989, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2d edition, ColdSpring Harbor, N.Y.). A subsequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or 11 contains atleast 100 contiguous nucleotides or preferably at least 200 continguousnucleotides. Moreover, the subsequence may encode a polypeptide fragmentwhich has lactase activity.

The nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or 11 or a subsequence thereof,as well as the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID Na 1 or 2 or a fragmentthereof, may be used to design a nucleic acid probe to identify and doneDNA encoding polypeptides having transgalactosylase activity fromstrains of different genera or species according to methods well knownin the art. In particular, such probes can be used for hybridizationwith the genomic or cDNA of the genus or species of interest, followingstandard Southern blotting procedures, in order to identify and isolatethe corresponding gene therein. Such probes can be considerably shorterthan the entire sequence, but should be at least 14, preferably at least25, more preferably at least 35, and most preferably at least 70nucleotides in length. It is, however, preferred that the nucleic acidprobe is at least 100 nucleotides in length. For example, the nucleicacid probe may be at least 200 nucleotides, preferably at least 300nucleotides, more preferably at least 400 nucleotides, or mostpreferably at least 500 nucleotides in length. Even longer probes may beused, e.g., nucleic acid probes which are at least 600 nucleotides, atleast preferably at least 700 nucleotides, more preferably at least 800nucleotides, or most preferably at least 900 nucleotides in length. BothDNA and RNA probes can be used. The probes are typically labeled fordetecting the corresponding gene (for example, with ³²P, ³H, ³³S,biotin, or avidin). Such probes are encompassed by the presentinvention.

A genomic DNA library prepared from such other organisms may, therefore,be screened for DNA which hybridizes with the probes described above andwhich encodes a polypeptide having lactase activity. Genomic or otherDNA from such other organisms may be separated by agarose orpolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or other separation techniques. DNAfrom the libraries or the separated DNA may be transferred to andimmobliized on nitrocellulose or other suitable carrier material. Inorder to identify a clone or DNA which is homologous with SEQ ID NO: 10or 11 or a subsequence thereof, the carrier material is used in aSouthern blot.

For purposes of the present invention, hybridization indicates that thenucleotide sequence hybridizes to a labelled nucleic: acid probecorresponding to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 10 or 11,its complementary strand, or a subsequence thereof, under very low tovery high stringency conditions. Molecules to which the nucleic acidprobe hybridizes under these conditions can be detected using X-rayfilm.

In a preferred aspect, the nucleic acid probe is nucleotides 175 to 2011or nucleotides 198 to 2040 of SEQ ID NO: 10 or SEQ ID NO: 11respectively. In another preferred aspect, the nucleic acid probe is apolynucleotide sequence which encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 orSEQ ID NO: 2, or a subsequence thereof. In another preferred aspect, thenucleic acid probe is SEQ ID NO: 10 or SEQ ID NO: 11. In anotherpreferred aspect, the nucleic acid probe is the mature polypeptidecoding region of SEQ ID NO: 10 or SEQ ID NO: 11.

For long probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, very low to veryhigh stringency conditions are defined as prehybridization andhybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 g/ml sheared anddenatured salmon sperm DNA, and either 25% formamide for very low andlow stringencies, 35% formamide for medium and medium-high stringencies,or 50% formamide for high and very high stringencies, following standardSouthern blotting procedures for 1.2 to 24 hours optimally.

For long probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, the carriermaterial is finally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC,0.2% SDS preferably at least at 45° C. (very low stringency), morepreferably at least at 50° C. (low stringency), more preferably at leastat 55° C. (medium stringency), more preferably at least at 60° C.(medium-high stringency), even more preferably at least at 65° C. (highstringency), and most preferably at least at 70° C. (very highstringency).

In a particular embodiment, the wash is conducted using 0.2×SSC, 0.2%SDS preferably at least at 45° C. (very low stringency), more preferablyat least at 50° C. (low stringency), more preferably at least at 55° C.(medium stringency), more preferably at least at 60° C. (medium-highstringency), even more preferably at least at 65° C. (high stringency),and most preferably at least at 70° C. (very high stringency). Inanother particular embodiment, the wash is conducted using 0.1×SSC, 0.2%SDS preferably at least at 45° C. (very low stringency), more preferablyat least at 50° C. (low stringency), more preferably at least at 55° C.(medium stringency), more preferably at least at 60° C. (medium-highstringency), even more preferably at least at 65° C. (high stringency),and most preferably at least at 70° C. (very high stringency).

For short probes which are about 15 nucleotides to about 70 nucleotidesin length, stringency conditions are defined as prehybridization,hybridization, and washing post-hybridization at about 5° C. to about10° C. below the calculated T_(m), using the calculation according toBolton and McCarthy (1962, Proceedings of the National Academy ofSciences USA 48:1390) in 0.9 M NaCl, 0.09 M Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 6 mM EDTA,0.5% NP-40, 1× Denhardt's solution, 1 mM sodium pyrophosphate, 1 mMsodium monobasic phosphate, 0.1 mM ATP, and 0.2 mg of yeast RNA per mlfollowing standard Southern blotting procedures.

For short probes which are about 15 nucleotides to about 70 nucleotidesin length, the carrier material is washed once in 6×SCC plus 0.1% SOSfor 15 minutes and twice each for 15 minutes using 6×SSC at 5° C. to 10°C. below the calculated T_(m).

Under salt-containing hybridization conditions, the effective T_(m) iswhat controls the degree of identity required between the probe and thefilter bound DNA for successful hybridization. The effective T_(m) maybe determined using the formula below to determine the degree ofidentity required for two DNAs to hybridize under various stringencyconditions.

Effective T_(m)=81.5+16.6(log M[Na⁺]) 0.41(% G+C)−0.72(% formamide) (Seewww.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/mcclean/plsc731/dna/dna6.htm) The G+Ccontent of SEQ ID NO: 10 is 42% and the G+C content of SEQ ID NO: 11 is44%. For medium stringency, the formamide is 35% and the Na⁺concentration for 5×SSPE is 0.75 M.

Another relevant relationship is that a 1% mismatch of two DNAs lowersthe T_(m) by 1.4° C. To determine the degree of identity required fortwo DNAs to hybridize under medium stringency conditions at 42° C., thefollowing formula is used:

% Homology=100−[(Effective T _(m)−Hybridization Temperature)/1.4]

(See www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/mcclean/plsc731/dna/dna6.htm)

The variant nucleic acids include a polynucleotide having a certainpercent, e.g., 60%, 65%, 70, 75%, 50%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99%, ofsequence identity with the nucleic acid encoding SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. Inone aspect, a nucleic acid capable of encoding a polypeptide asdisclosed herein, is provided. In a further aspect, the herein disclosednucleic acid has a nucleic acid sequence which is at least 60%, such asat least 65%, such as at least 70%, such as at least 75%, such as atleast 80%, such as at least 85%, such as at least 90%, such as at least95%, such as at least 99% identical SEQ ID NO: 10 or 11.

In one aspect, the polypeptides disclosed herein comprises an amino acidsequence having at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acidsequence of the mature polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequenceencoding the transdalatosylase contained in DSM accession no: 20583. Inone aspect, the polypeptides disclosed herein comprises an amino acidsequence having at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acidsequence of the mature polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequenceencoding the transgalatosylase contained in ATCC accession no: 29176.Ali considerations and limitations relating to sequence identities andfunctionality discussed in terms of the SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 apply mutatismutandis to sequence identities and functionality of these polypeptidesand nucleotides.

As used herein, the term “expression” refers to the process by which apolypeptide is produced based on the nucleic acid sequence of a gene.The process includes both transcription and translation.

As used herein, “polypeptide” is used interchangeably with the terms“amino acid sequence”, “enzyme”, “peptide” and/or “protein”. As usedherein, “nucleotide sequence” or “nucleic add sequence” refers to anoligonucleotide sequence or polynucleotide sequence and variants,homologues, fragments and derivatives thereof. The nucleotide sequencemay be of genomic, synthetic or recombinant origin and may bedouble-stranded or single-stranded, whether representing the sense oranti-sense strand. As used herein, the term “nucleotide sequence”includes genomic DNA, cDNA, synthetic DNA, and RNA.

“Homologue” means an entity having a certain degree of identity or“homology” with the subject amino acid sequences and the subjectnucleotide sequences. In one aspect, the subject amino acid sequence isSEQ ID NO: 1-8, and the subject nucleotide sequence preferably is SEQ IDNO: 10-11.

A “homologous sequence” includes a polynucleotide or a polypeptidehaving a certain percent, e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99%, of sequenceidentity with another sequence.

Percent identity means that, when aligned, that percentage of bases oramino acid residues are the same when comparing the two sequences. Aminoacid sequences are not identical, where an amino acid is substituted,deleted, or added compared to the subject sequence. The percent sequenceidentity typically is measured with respect to the mature sequence ofthe subject protein, i.e., following removal of a signal sequence, forexample, Typically, homologues will comprise the same active siteresidues as the subject amino acid sequence. Homologues also retainenzymatic activity, although the homologue may have different enzymaticproperties than the wild-type

As used herein, “hybridization” includes the process by which a strandof nucleic acid joins with a complementary strand through base pairing,as well as the process of amplification as carried out in polymerasechain reaction (PCR) technologies. The variant nucleic acid may exist assingle- or double-stranded DNA or RNA, an RNA/DNA heteroduplex or anRNA/DNA copolymer. As used herein, “copolymer” refers to a singlenucleic acid strand that comprises both ribonucieotides anddeoxyribonucleotides. The variant nucleic acid may be codon-optimized tofurther increase expression.

As used herein, a “synthetic” compound is produced by in vitro chemicalor enzymatic synthesis. It includes, but is not limited to, variantnucleic acids made with optimal codon usage for host organisms, such asa yeast cell host or other expression hosts of choice.

As used herein, “transformed cell” includes cells, including bothbacterial and fungal cells, which have been transformed by use ofrecombinant DNA techniques. Transformation typically occurs by insertionof one or more nucleotide sequences into a cell. The inserted nucleotidesequence may be a heterologous nucleotide sequence, i.e., is a sequencethat is not natural to the cell that is to be transformed, such as afusion protein.

As used herein, “operably linked” means that the described componentsare in a relationship permitting them to function in their intendedmanner. For example, a regulator/ sequence operably linked to a codingsequence is ligated in such a way that expression of the coding sequenceis achieved under condition compatible with the control sequences.

As used herein, the term “fragment” is defined as a polypeptide havingone or more (several) amino acids deleted from the amino and/or carboxylterminus for example of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:12 or 13; whereinthe fragment has transgalactosylating activity.

In one aspect, the term “polypeptide fragment” is defined herein as apolypeptide having one or more (several) amino acids deleted from theamino and/or carboxyl terminus of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 or 2;wherein the fragment has transgalactosylating activity.

In one aspect, a fragment contains at least 500, 700, 900 or 1000 aminoacid residues. In one aspect, a fragment contains at the most 1250,1200, 1180, 1170, 1150 or 1125 amino acid residues.

In a further aspect, the length of the polypeptide disclosed herein is500 to 1250 amino acids. In a further aspect, the length of thepolypeptide variant is 500 to 1200 amino acids. In a further aspect, thelength of the polypeptide variant is 700 to 1170 amino acids. In afurther aspect, the length of the polypeptide variant is 900 to 1180amino acids. In a further aspect, the length of the polypeptide variantis 900 to 1150 amino acids. In a further aspect, the length of thepolypeptide variant is 1000 to 1125 amino acids.

In one aspect, a plasmid comprising a nucleic acid as described herein,is provided.

In one aspect, an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid asdescribed herein, or capable of expressing a polypeptide as describedherein, is provided.

In a further aspect, a host cell comprising, preferably transformedwith, a plasmid as described herein or an expression vector as describedherein, is provided.

In a further aspect, a cell capable of expressing a polypeptide asdescribed herein, is provided.

In one aspect, the host cell as described herein, or the cell asdescribed herein is a bacterial, fungal or yeast cell.

In a further aspect, the host cell is selected from the group consistingof Ruminococcus, Bifidobacterium, Lactococcus, Lactobacillus,Streptococcus, Leuconostoc, Escherichia, Bacillus, Streptomyces,Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Candida, Torula, Torulopsis andAspergillus.

In a further aspect, the host cell is selected from the group consistingof Ruminococcus hansenii, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum,Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactococcuslactis.

In a further aspect, a method of expressing a polypeptide as describedherein comprises obtaining a host cell or a cell as described herein andexpressing the polypeptide from the cell or host cell, and optionallypurifying the polypeptide.

Polypeptide Variants of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:2

In one aspect, a variant of SEQ ID NO:1 or 2 having a substitution atone or more positions which effects an altered property such as improvedtransgalactosylation, relative to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, is provided. Suchvariant polypeptides are also referred to in this document forconvenience as “variant polypeptide”, “polypeptide variant” or“variant”. In one aspect, the polypeptides as defined herein have animproved transgalactosylating activity as compared to the polypeptide ofSEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. In another aspect, the polypeptides as defined hereinhave an improved reaction velocity as compared to the polypeptide of SEQID No: 1 or 2.

In one aspect, the polypeptides and variants as defined herein exhibitenzyme activity. In one aspect, the polypeptides and the variantpolypeptides described herein comprise transdalactosylation activity.

In one aspect, the ratio of transdalactosylating activity:β-galactosidase activity is at least 2.5, such as at least 3, such as atleast 4, such as at least 5, such as at least 6, such as at least 7,such as at least 8, such as at least 9, such as at least 10, such as atleast 11, or such as at least 12 after 30 min. reaction.

In one aspect, the polypeptides and the variants as defined herein arederivable from microbial sources, in particular from a filamentousfungus or yeast, or from a bacterium. The enzyme may, e.g., be derivedfrom a strain of Agaricus, e.g. A. bisporus; Ascovaginospora;Aspergillus, e.g. A. niger, A. awamori, A. foetidus, A. japonicus, A.oryzae; Candida; Chaetornium; Chaetotomastia; Dictyostelium, e.g. D.discoideum; Kluveromyces, e.g. K. fragilis, K. lactis; Mucor, e.g. M.javanicus, M. mucedo, M. subtilissimus; Neurospora, e.g. N. crassa;Rhizomucor, e.g. R. pusillus; Rhizopus, e.g. R. arrhizus, R. japonicus,R. stolonifer; Sclerotinia, e.g. S. libertiana; Torula; Torulopsis;Trichophyton, e.g. T. rubrum; Whetzelinia, e.g. W. sclerotiorum;Bacillus, e.g. B. coagulans, B. circulans, B. megaterium, B. novalis, B.subtilis, B. pumilus, B. stearotherrnophilus, B. thuringiensis;Bifidobacterium, e.g. B. Iongum, B. bifidum, B. animalis;Chryseobacterium; Citrobacter, e.g. C. freundii; Clostridium, e.g. C.perfringens; Diplodia, e.g. D. gossypina; Enterobacter, e.g. E.aerogenes, E. cloacae Edwardsiella, E. tarda; Erwinia, e.g. E.herbicola; Escherichia, e.g. E. coli; Klebsiella, e.g. K. pneumoniae;Miriococcum; Myrothesium; Mucor; Neurospora, e.g. N. crassa; Proteus,e.g. P. vulgaris; Providencia, e.g. P. stuartii; Pycnoporus, e.g.Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Pycnoporus sangulneus; Ruminococcus, e.g. R.torques; Salmonella, e.g. S. typhimurium; Serratia, e.g. S.liquefasciens, S. marcescens; Shigella, e.g. S. flexneri; Streptomyces,e.g. S. antibioticus, S. castaneoglobisporus, S. violeceoruber;Trametes; Trichoderma e.g. T. reesei, T. viride; Yersinia e.g. Y.enterocolitica.

An isolated and/or purified polypeptide comprising a polypeptide or avariant polypeptide as defined herein is provided. In one embodiment,the variant polypeptide is a mature form of the polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:1 or 2). In one aspect, the variants include. a C-terminal domain.

In one aspect, a variant polypeptide as defined herein includes variantswherein between one and about 25 amino acid residues have been added ordeleted with respect to SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2. In one aspect, thevariant has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2,wherein any number between one and about 25 amino acids have beensubstituted. In a further aspect, the variant has the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein any number betweenthree and twelve amino acids has been substituted. In a further aspect,the variant has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2,wherein any number between five and nine amino acids has beensubstituted.

In one aspect, at least two, in another aspect at least three, and yetin another aspect at least five amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ IDNO: 2 have been substituted,

In one aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s) has the sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 1 or

In one aspect, the herein disclosed polypeptide(s) has the sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, wherein the 10, such as 9, such as 8, such as 7, suchas 6, such 5, such as 4, such as 3, such as 2, such as 1 amino acid inthe N-terminal end are substituted and/or deleted, in a further aspect,the length of the polypeptide variant is 500 to 1250 amino acids. In afurther aspect, the length of the polypeptide variant is 500 to 1200amino acids. In a further aspect, the length of the polypeptide variantis 700 to 1170 amino acids. In a further aspect, the length of thepolypeptide variant is 900 to 1180 amino acids. In a further aspect, thelength of the polypeptide variant is 900 to 1150 amino acids. In afurther aspect, the length of the polypeptide variant is 1000 to 1125amino acids.

Polypeptide Characterization

Enzymes and enzyme variants thereof can be characterized by theirnucleic acid and primary polypeptide sequences, by three dimensionalstructural modeling, and/or by their specific activity. Additionalcharacteristics of the polypeptide or polypeptide variants as definedherein include stability, pH range, oxidation stability, andthermostability, for example. Levels of expression and enzyme activitycan be assessed using standard assays known to the artisan skilled inthis field. In another aspect, variants demonstrate improved performancecharacteristics relative to the polypeptide with SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, suchas improved stability at high temperatures, e.g., 65-85° C.

An expression characteristic means an altered level of expression of thevariant, when the variant is produced in a particular host cell.Expression generally relates to the amount of active variant that isrecoverable from a fermentation broth using standard techniques known inthis art over a given amount of time. Expression also can relate to theamount or rate of variant produced within the host cell or secreted bythe host cell. Expression also can relate to the rate of translation ofthe mRNA encoding the variant polypeptide.

A nucleic acid complementary to a nucleic acid encoding any of thepolypeptide variants as defined herein set forth herein is provided.Additionally, a nucleic acid capable of hybridizing to the complement isprovided. In another embodiment, the sequence for use in the methods andcompositions described here is a synthetic sequence. It includes, but isnot limited to, sequences made with optimal codon usage for expressionin host organisms, such as yeast.

The polypeptide variants as provided herein may be producedsynthetically or through recombinant expression in a host cell,according to procedures well known in the art. In one aspect, the hereindisclosed polypeptide(s) is recombinant polypeptide(s). The expressedpolypeptide variant as defined herein optionally is isolated prior touse.

In another embodiment, the polypeptide variant as defined herein ispurified following expression. Methods of genetic modification andrecombinant production of polypeptide variants are described, forexample, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,371,552, 7,166,453; 6,890,572; and6,667,065; and U.S. Published Application Nos. 2007/0141693;2007/0072270; 2007/0020731; 2007/0020727; 2006/0073583; 2006/0019347;2006/0018997; 2006/0008890; 2006/0008888; and 2005/0137111. The relevantteachings of these disclosures, including polypeptide-encodingpolynucleotide sequences, primers, vectors, selection methods, hostcells, purification and reconstitution of expressed polypeptidevariants, and characterization of polypeptide variants as definedherein, including useful buffers, pH ranges, Ca²⁺ concentrations,substrate concentrations and enzyme concentrations for enzymatic assays,are herein incorporated by reference.

In another embodiment, suitable host cells include a Gram positivebacterium selected from the group consisting of Bacillus subtilis, B.licheniformis, B. lentus, B. brevis, B. stearothermophilus, B.alkalophitus, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. coagulans, B. circulans, B.fautus, B. thuringiensis, Streptomyces fividans, or S. murinus; or aGram negative bacterium, wherein said Gram negative bacterium isEscherichia coil or a Pseudomonas species. In one aspect, the host cellis a B. subtilus or B. lichenformis. In one embodiment, the host cell isB. subtilis and the expressed protein is engineered to comprise a B.subtilis signal sequence, as set forth in further detail below. In oneaspect, the host cell expresses the polynucleotide as set out in theclaims.

In some embodiments, a host cell is genetically engineered to express apolypeptide variant as defined herein with an amino acid sequence havingat least about 66%, 68%, 70%, 72%, 74%, 78%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%,93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100% identity with the polypeptide ofSEQ 1D NO:1 or 2, in some embodiments, the polynucleotide encoding apolypeptide variant as defined herein will have a nucleic acid sequenceencoding the protein of SEQ ID NO; 1 or a nucleic acid sequence havingat least about 66%, 68%, 70%, 72%, 74%, 78%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%,97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with a nucleic acid encoding theprotein of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. In one embodiment, the nucleic acidsequence has at least about 60%, 66%, 68%, 70%, 72%, 74%, 78%, 80% 85%,90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identity to the nucleic acid ofSEQ ID NO: 10-11.

Vectors

In one aspect, the invention relates to a vector comprising apolynucleotide. In one aspect, a bacterial cell comprises the vector. Insome embodiments, a DNA construct comprising a nucleic acid encoding avariant is transferred to a host cell in an expression vector thatcomprises regulatory sequences operably linked to an encoding sequence.The vector may be any vector that can be integrated into a fungal hostcell genome and replicated when introduced into the host cell. The FGSCCatalogue of Strains, University of Missouri, lists suitable vectors.Additional examples of suitable expression and/or integration vectorsare provided in Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL,3^(rd) ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor,N.Y. (2001); Bennett et al., MORE GENE MANIPULATIONS IN FUNGI, AcademicPress, San Diego (1991), pp. 396-428; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,276.Exemplary vectors include pFB6, pBR322, PUC18, pUC100 and pENTR/D,pDON™201, pDONR™221, pENTR™, pGEW®3Z and pGEM®4Z. Exemplary for use inbacterial cells include pBR322 and pUC19, which permit replication in E.coli, and pE194, for example, which permits replication in Bacillus.

In some embodiments, a nucleic acid encoding a variant is operablylinked to a suitable promoter, which allows transcription in the hostcell. The promoter may be derived from genes encoding proteins eitherhomologous or heterologous to the host cell. Suitable non-limitingexamples of promoters include cbh1, cbh2, egl1, and egl2 promoters. Inone embodiment, the promoter is one that is native to the host cell, Forexample, when P. saccharophila is the host, the promoter is a native P.saccharophila promoter. An “inducible promoter” is a promoter that isactive under environmental or developmental regulation. In anotherembodiment, the promoter is one that is heterologous to the host cell.

In some embodiments, the coding sequence is operably linked to a DNAsequence encoding a signal sequence. A representative signal peptide isSEQ ID NO; 9 which is the native signal sequence of the Bacillussubtilis aprE precursor. In other embodiments, the DNA encoding thesignal sequence is replaced with a nucleotide sequence encoding a signalsequence from other extra-cellular Bacillus subtilis pre-cursors. In oneembodiment, the polynucleotide that encodes the signal sequence isimmediately upstream and in-frame of the polynucleotide that encodes thepolypeptide. The signal sequence may be selected from the same speciesas the host cell.

In additional embodiments, a signal sequence and a promoter sequencecomprising a DNA construct or vector to be introduced into a fungal hostcell are derived from the same source. In some embodiments, theexpression vector also includes a termination sequence. In oneembodiment, the termination sequence and the promoter sequence arederived from the same source. In another embodiment, the terminationsequence is homologous to the host cell.

In some embodiments, an expression vector includes a selectable marker.Examples of suitable selectable markers include those that conferresistance to antimicrobial agents, e.g., bygromydri or phleomycin.Nutritional selective markers also are suitable and include amdS, argB,and pyr4. In one embodiment, the selective marker is the amciS gene,which encodes the enzyme acetamidase; it allows transformed cells togrow on acetamide as a nitrogen source. The use of an A. nidulans amdSgene as a selective marker is described in Kelley et al., EMBO J. 4:475-479 (1985) and Penttila et al., Gene 61: 155-164 (198).

A suitable expression vector comprising a DNA construct with apolynucleotide encoding a variant may be any vector that is capable ofreplicating autonomously in a given host organism or integrating intothe DNA of the host. In some embodiments, the expression vector is aplasmid. In some embodiments, two types of expression vectors forobtaining expression of genes are contemplated. The first expressionvector comprises DNA sequences in which the promoter, coding region, andterminator all originate from the gene to be expressed. In someembodiments, gene truncation is obtained by deleting undesired DNAsequences to leave the domain to be expressed under control of its owntranscriptional and translational regulatory sequences. The second typeof expression vector is preassembled and contains sequences required forhigh-level transcription and a selectable marker. In some embodiments,the coding region for a gene or part thereof is inserted into thisgeneral-purpose expression vector, such that it is under thetranscriptional control of the expression construct promoter andterminator sequences. In some embodiments, genes or part thereof areinserted downstream of the strong cbh1 promoter.

Transformation, Expression and Culture of Host Cells

Introduction of a DNA construct or vector into a host cell includestechniques such as transformation; electroporation; nuclearmicroinjection; transduction; transfection, e.g., lipofection mediatedand DEAE-Dextrin mediated transfection; incubation with calciumphosphate DNA precipitate; high velocity bombardment with DNA-coatedmicroprojectiles; and protoplast fusion. General transformationtechniques are known in the art. See, e.g., Ausubel et al. (1987),supra, chapter 9; Sambrook et al. (2001), supra; and Campbell at al.,Curr. Genet. 16: 53-56 (1989). The expression of heterologous protein inTrichoderma is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,725; U.S.Pat. No. 6,268,328; Harkki at al., Enzyme Microb. Technol. 13: 227-233(1991); Harkki et al., BioTechnol. 7: 596-603 (1989); EP 244,234; and EP215,594. In one embodiment, genetically stable transformants areconstructed with vector systems whereby the nucleic acid encoding avariant is stably integrated into a host cell chromosome. Transformantsare then purified by known techniques.

In one non-limiting example, stable transformants including an amdSmarker are distinguished from unstable transformants by their fastergrowth rate and the formation of circular colonies with a smooth, ratherthan ragged outline on solid culture medium containing acetamide.Additionally, in some cases a further test of stability is conducted bygrowing the transformants on solid non-selective medium, e.g., a mediumthat lacks acetamide, harvesting spores from this culture medium anddetermining the percentage of these spores that subsequently germinateand grow on selective medium containing acetamide. Other methods knownin the art may be used to select transformants.

Identification of Activity

To evaluate the expression of a variant in a host cell, assays canmeasure the expressed protein, corresponding mRNA, or β-galactosidaseactivity. For example, suitable assays include Northern and Southernblotting, RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), andin situ hybridization, using an appropriately labeled hybridizing probe.Suitable assays also include measuring activity in a sample. Suitableassays of the activity of the variant include, but are not limited to,ONPG based assays or determining glucose in reaction mixtures such forexample described in the examples herein.

Methods for Purifying Herein Disclosed Polypeptides

In general, a variant produced in cell culture is secreted into themedium and may be purified or isolated, e.g., by removing unwantedcomponents from the cell culture medium. In some cases, a variant may berecovered from a cell lysate. In such cases, the enzyme is purified fromthe cells in which it was produced using techniques routinely employedby those of skill in the art. Examples include, but are not limited to,affinity chromatography, ion-exchange chromatographic methods, includinghigh resolution ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction chromatography,two-phase partitioning, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC,chromatography on silica or on a cation-exchange resin, such as DEAF,chromatofocusing, SDS-PAGE, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and gelfiltration using Sephadex G-75, for example. Depending on the intendeduse the herein disclosed polypeptide(s) may for example be eitherfreeze-dried or prepared in a solution. In one aspect, the hereindisclosed polypeptide(s) is freeze-dried form. In another aspect, theherein disclosed polypeptide(s) is in solution.

Methods for Immobilising and Formulation of the Herein DisclosedPolypeptides

The polypeptide compositions may be prepared in accordance with methodsknown in the art and may be in the form of a liquid or a drycomposition. For instance, the polypeptide composition may be in theform of a granulate or a microaranulate. The polypeptide to be includedin the composition may be stabilized in accordance with methods known inthe art.

The enzyme preparation, such as in the form of a food ingredientprepared according to the present invention, may be in the form of asolution or as a solid—depending on the use and/or the mode ofapplication and/or the mode of administration. The solid form can beeither as a dried enzyme powder or as a granulated enzyme.

Examples of dry enzyme formulations include spray dried products, mixergranulation products, layered products such as fluid bed granules,extruded or pelletized granules, prilled products, or lyophilisedproducts.

The enzyme preparation, such as in the form of a food ingredientprepared according to the present invention, may be in the form of asolution or as a solid—depending on the use and/or the mode ofapplication and/or the mode of administration. The solid form can beeither as a dried enzyme powder or as a granulated enzyme.

In one aspect the invention provides an enzyme complex preparationcomprising the enzyme complex according to the invention, an enzymecarrier and optionally a stabilizer and/or a preservative.

In yet a further aspect of the invention, the enzyme carrier is selectedfrom the group consisting of glycerol or water.

In a further aspect, the preparation comprises a stabilizer. In oneaspect, the stabilizer is selected from the group consisting ofinorganic salts, polyols, sugars and combinations thereof. In oneaspect, the stabilizer is an inorganic salt such as potassium chloride.In another aspect, the polyol is glycerol, propylene glycol, orsorbitol. In yet another aspect, the sugar is a small-moleculecarbohydrate, in particular any of several sweet-tasting ones such asglucose, galactose, fructose and saccharose.

In yet at further aspect, the preparation comprises a preservative. Inone aspect, the preservative is methyl paraben, propyl paraben,benzoate, sorbate or other food approved preservatives or a mixturethereof.

The method of the invention can be practiced with immobilized enzymes,e.g. an immobilized lactase or other galactooligosaccharide producingenzymes. The enzyme can be immobilized on any organic or inorganicsupport. Exemplary inorganic supports include alumina, celite,Dowex-1-chloride, glass beads and silica gel. Exemplary organic supportsinclude DEAE-cellulose, alginate hydrogels or alginate beads orequivalents. In various aspects of the invention, immobilization of thelactase can be optimized by physical adsorption on to the inorganicsupport. Enzymes used to practice the invention can be immobilized indifferent media, including water, Tris-HCl buffer and phosphate bufferedsolution. The enzyme can be immobilized to any type of substrate, e.g.filters, fibers, columns, beads, colloids, gels, hydrogels, meshes andthe like.

Use of the Herein Disclosed Polypeptides

In one aspect, a method for producing a dairy product by treating amilk-based substrate comprising lactose with a polypeptide as describedherein is provided. In a further aspect, a method for producing a dairyproduct by treating a milk-based substrate comprising lactose with apolypeptide having a relative transgalactosylation activity above 60%,such as above 70%, such as above 75% after 15 min. reaction, isprovided. In one aspect, the relative transgalactcisylation activity isabove 3 after 30 min. reaction. In a further aspect, the relativetransgalactosylation activity is above 6 after 30 min. reaction. In yeta further aspect, the relative transgalactosylation activity is above 12after 30 min. reaction. In one aspect, a method is provided, wherein thetreatment with a polypeptide as described herein takes place at anoptimal temperature for the activity of the enzyme. In a further aspect,the polypeptide is added to the milk-based substrate at a concentrationof 0.01-1000 ppm. In yet a further aspect, the polypeptide is added tothe milk-based substrate at a concentration of 0.1-100 ppm. In a furtheraspect, the polypeptide is added to the milk-based substrate at aconcentration of 1-10 ppm. In one aspect, a method further comprisingfermenting a substrate such as a dairy product with a microorganism, isprovided. In a further aspect, the dairy product is yogurt. In a furtheraspect, the treatment with the polypeptide and the microorganism isperformed essentially at the same time. In one aspect, the polypeptideand the microorganism are added to the milk-based substrate essentiallyat the same time.

In one aspect, a composition preferably a food composition, morepreferably a dairy product comprising a cell or a polypeptide asdescribed herein, is provided.

In one aspect, a dairy product comprising a cell or a polypeptide asdescribed herein, is provided. In one aspect, the polypeptide as definedherein is added in a concentration of 0.01-1000 ppm. In one aspect, adairy product comprising an inactivated polypeptide as defined herein,is provided. In one aspect, a dairy product comprising an inactivatedpolypeptide as defined herein in a concentration of 0.01-1000 ppm, isprovided. In one aspect, a dairy product comprising GOS formed in situby a polypeptide as defined herein, is provided. In one aspect, a dairyproduct comprising a cell as defined herein, is provided.

A dairy product as described herein may be, e.g., skim milk, low fatmilk, whole milk, cream, UHT milk, milk having an extended shelf life, afermented milk product, cheese, yoghurt, butter, dairy spread, buttermilk, acidified milk drink, sour cream, whey based drink, ice cream,condensed milk, dulce de leche or a flavoured milk drink. A dairyproduct may be manufactured by any method known in the art.

A dairy product may additionally comprise non-milk components, e.g.vegetable components such as, e.g., vegetable oil, vegetable protein,and/or vegetable carbohydrates. Dairy products may also comprise furtheradditives such as, e.g., enzymes, flavouring agents, microbial culturessuch as probiotic cultures, salts, sweeteners, sugars, acids, fruit,fruit juices, or any other component known in the art as a component of,or additive to, a dairy product.

In one embodiment of the invention, one or more milk components and/ormilk fractions account for at east 50% (weight/weight), such as at least70%, e.g., at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the dairy product.

In one embodiment of the invention, one or more milk-based substrateshaving been treated with an enzyme as defined herein havingtransgalactosylating activity account for at least 50% (weight/weight),such as at least 70%, e.g. at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of thedairy product.

In one embodiment of the invention, the dairy product is a dairy productwhich is not enriched by addition of pre-producedgalacto-oligosaccharides.

In one embodiment of the invention, the polypeptide-treated milk-basedsubstrate is not dried before being used as an ingredient in the dairyproduct.

In one embodiment of the invention, the dairy product is ice cream. Inthe present context, ice cream may be any kind of ice cream such as fullfat ice cream, low fat ice cream, or ice cream based on yoghurt or otherfermented milk products. Ice cream may be manufactured by any methodknown in the art.

In one embodiment of the invention, the dairy product is milk orcondensed milk.

In one embodiment of the invention, the dairy product is UHT milk, UHTmilk in the context of the present invention is milk which has beensubjected to a sterilization procedure which is intended to kill allmicroorganisms, including the bacterial spores. UHT (ultra hightemperature) treatment may be, e.g., heat treatment for 30 seconds at130° C., or heat treatment for one second at 145° C.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the dairy product is ESLmilk. ESL milk in the present context is milk which has an extendedshelf life due to microfiltration and/or heat treatment and which isable to stay fresh for at least 15 days, preferably for at least 20days, on the store shelf at 2-5° C.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the dairy product is afermented dairy product, e.g., yoghurt.

The microorganisms used for most fermented milk products are selectedfrom the group of bacteria generally referred to as lactic acidbacteria. As used herein, the term “lactic add bacterium” designates agram-positive, microaerophilic or anaerobic bacterium, which fermentssugars with the production of acids including lactic acid as thepredominantly produced acid, acetic acid and propionic acid. Theindustrially most useful lactic, acid bacteria are found within theorder “Lactobacillales” which includes Lactococcus spp., Streptococcusspp., Lactobacillus spp., Leuconostoc spp., Pseudoleuconostoc spp.,Pecilococcus spp., Brevibacterium spp., Enterococcus spp. andPropionibacterium spp. Additionally, lactic add producing bacteriabelonging to the group of anaerobic bacteria, bifidobacteria, i.e.Bifidobacterium spp,, which are frequently used as food cultures aloneor in combination with lactic acid bacteria, are generally included inthe group of lactic acid bacteria. Lactic acid bacteria are normallysupplied to the dairy industry either as frozen or freeze-dried culturesfor bulk starter propagation or as so-called “Direct Vat Set” (DVS)cultures, intended for direct inoculation into a fermentation vessel orvat for the production of a fermented dairy product. Such cultures arein general referred to as “starter cultures” or “starters”.

Commonly used starter culture strains of lactic acid bacteria aregenerally divided into mesophilic organisms having optimum growthtemperatures at about 30° C. and thermophilic organisms having optimumgrowth temperatures in the range of about 40 to about 45° C. Typicalorganisms belonging to the mesophilic group include Lactococcus lactis,Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp.cremoris, Pseudoleuconostoc mesenteroldes subsp. cremoris, Pediococcuspentosaceus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis,Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei and Lactobacillus paracasei subsp.paracasei. Thermophilic lactic acid bacterial species include asexamples Streptococcus thermophilus, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillusdelbrueckii subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillusdelbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Lactobacillus acidophilus, Also theanaerobic bacteria belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium includingBifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium animalis and Bifidobacteriumlongum are commonly used as dairy starter cultures and are generallyincluded in the group of lactic acid bacteria. Additionally, species ofPropionibacteria are used as dairy starter cultures, in particular inthe manufacture of cheese. Additionally, organisms belonging to theBrevibacterium genus are commonly used as food starter cultures.

Another group of microbial starter cultures are fungal cultures,including yeast cultures and cultures of filamentous fungi, which areparticularly used in the manufacture of certain types of cheese andbeverage. Examples of fungi include Penicillium roqueforti, Penicilliumcandidum, Geotrichum candidum, Torula kefir, Saccharomyces kefir andSaccharomyces cerevisiae.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the microorganism used forfermentation of the milk-based substrate is Lactobacillus casei or amixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckiisubsp. bulgaricus.

Fermentation processes to be used in a method of the present inventionare well known and the person of skill in the art will know how toselect suitable process conditions, such as temperature, oxygen, amountand characteristics of microorganism's, additives such as e.g.carbohydrates, flavours, minerals, enzymes, and process time. Obviously,fermentation conditions are selected so as to support the achievement ofthe present invention. As a result of fermentation, pH of the milk-basedsubstrate will be lowered. The pH of a fermented dairy product of theinvention may be, e.g., in the range 3.5-6, such as in the range 3.5-5,preferably in the range 3.8-4.8.

In one aspect, a method of using the polypeptides or using any one ormore of the above mentioned cell types for producing oligosaccharides,is provided. The oligosaccharides comprise, but are not limited tofructooligo-saccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides,isomalto-oligosaccharides, malto-oligosaccharides, lactosucrose andxylo-oligosaccharides.

In one embodiment of the invention, the oligosaccharides are produced byincubating the cell expressing the polypeptide in a medium thatcomprises a disaccharide substrate such as for example lactulose,trehalose, rhamnose, maltose, sucrose, lactose, or cellobiose. Theincubation is carried out under conditions where oligosaccarides areproduced. The cells may he part of a product selected from the groupconsisting of yoghurt, cheese, fermented milk. products, dietarysupplements, and probiotic comestible products. Alternatively, theoligosaccharides can be recovered and subsequently be added to theproduct of interest before or after its preparation.

In one aspect, the use of a herein disclosed cell for producing aproduct selected from the group consisting of yoghurt, cheese, fermentedmilk product, dietary supplement and probiotic comestible product, isprovided.

In one aspect, the polypeptides described herein may be used to preparecheese products and in methods for making the cheese products. Cheeseproducts may e.g. be selected from the group consisting of cream cheese,cottage cheese, and process cheese. By adding polypeptides the cheesesmay contain significantly increased levels of galacto-oligosaccharidesand reduced levels of lactose. In one aspect, the lactose levels in thefinal cheese product may be reduced by at least about 25 percent,preferably at least about 50 percent, and more preferably at least about75 percent. The polypeptides may be used to reduce Lactose in cheeseproducts to less than about 1 gram per serving, an amount that can betolerated by most lactose-intolerant individuals.

The cheese products provided herein are nutritionally-enhanced cheeseproducts having increased soluble fiber content, reduced caloriccontent, excellent organoleptic properties, improved texture, andflavor. Further, the polypeptides described herein may reduce theglycemic index of the cheese products because GOS are more slowlyabsorbed than lactose or its hydrolysis products. Finally, thepolypeptides may reduce the cost of production of cheese products,particularly cream cheese products, because GOS surprisingly provideimproved texture to the cream cheese product, thus permitting reduceduse of stabilizers, or by allowing for increased moisture contentwithout syneresis.

In a further aspect, a composition comprising a polypeptide as describedherein and a carbohydrate substrate, is provided. In a further aspect,the carbohydrate substrate is a disaccharide. In a further aspect, thedisaccharide is for example lactulose, trehalose, rhamnose, maltose,sucrose, lactose or cellobiose. In yet a further aspect, thecarbohydrate substrate is lactose. The composition is prepared such thatoligosaccarides are produced. The polypeptide as described herein may bepart of a product selected from the group consisting of yoghurt, cheese,fermented milk products, dietary supplements, and probiotic comestibleproducts. In one aspect, a composition comprising a polypeptide asdescribed herein and a stabilizer, is provided. Examples of stabilizersis e.g., a polyol such as, e.g., glycerol or propylene glycol, a sugaror a sugar alcohol, lactic acid, boric add, or a boric acid derivative(e.g., an aromatic borate ester).

In one aspect, the use of a transgalactosylating polypeptide asdisclosed herein or a cell as disclosed herein, for producinggalacto-oligosaccharides, is provided. In one aspect, the use of atransgalactosylating polypeptide as disclosed herein or a cell asdisclosed herein, for producing galacto-oligosaccharides to be part of aproduct selected from the group consisting of yoghurt, cheese, fermenteddairy products, dietary supplements and probiotic comestible products,is provided. In one aspect, the product is yoghurt, cheese, or fermenteddairy products. In one aspect, the use of a transgalactosylatingpolypeptide as disclosed herein or a cell as disclosed herein, forproducing galacto-oligosaccharides to enhance the growth ofBifidobacterium, is provided. In one aspect, the use of atransgalactosylating polypeptide as disclosed herein or a cell asdisclosed herein, for producing galacto-oligosaccharides to enhance thegrowth of Bifidobacterium in a mixed culture fermentation, is provided.

In one aspect, a process for producing a transgalactosylatingpolypeptide as disclosed herein, comprising culturing a cell asdisclosed herein in a suitable culture medium under conditionspermitting expression of said polypeptide, and recovering the resultingpolypeptide from the culture, is provided. A process for producinggalacto-oligosaccharides, comprising contacting of an polypeptide of asdisclosed herein or a cell as disclosed herein with a milk-basedsolution comprising lactose, is provided.

Addition of oligosaccharides may enhance growth of eitherBifidobacterium alone or of Bifidobacterium in a mixed culture.

The treatment of milk products with enzymes that converts lactose intomonosaccharides or GOS have several advantages. First the products canbe consumed by people with lactose intolerance that would otherwiseexhibit symptoms such as flatulence and diarreha. Secondly, dairyproducts treated with lactase will have a higher sweetness than similaruntreated products due to the higher perceived sweetness of glucose andgalactose compared to lactose. This effect is particularly interestingfor applications such as yoghurt and ice-cream where high sweetness ofthe end product is desired and this allows for a net reduction ofcarbohydrates in the consumed product. Thirdly, in ice-cream productiona phenomenon termed sandiness is often seen, where the lactose moleculescrystallizes due to the relative low solubility of the lactose. Whenlactose is converted into monosaccharides or GOS the mouth feeling ofthe ice-cream is much improved over the non-treated products. Thepresence of a sandy feeling due to lactose crystallization can beeliminated and the raw material costs can be decreased by replacement ofskimmed milk powder by whey powder. The main effects of the enzymatictreatment were increased sweetness.

In one aspect, the transgalactosylating polypeptide(s) as disclosedherein may be used together with other enzymes such as proteases such aschymosin or rennin, lipases such as phospholipases, amylases,transferases, and lactases. In one aspect, the transgalactosylatingpolypeptide(s) as disclosed herein may be used together with lactase.This may especially be useful when there is a desire to reduce residuallactose after treatment with the transgalactosylating polypeptide(s) asdisclosed herein especially at low lactose levels. A lactase in thecontext of the present invention is any glycoside hydrolase having theability to hydrolyse the disaccharide lactose into constituent galactoseand glucose monomers. The group of lactases comprises but is not limitedto enzymes assigned to subclass EC 3.2.1.108. Enzymes assigned to othersubclasses, such as, e.g., EC 3.2.1.23, may also be lactases the contextof the present invention. A lactase in the context of the invention mayhave other activities than the lactose hydrolysing activity, such as forexample a transgalactosylating activity. In the context of theinvention, the lactose hydrolysing activity of the lactase may bereferred to as its lactase activity or its beta-galactosidase activity.Enzymes having lactase activity to be used in a method of the presentinvention may be of animal, of plant or of microbial origin. Preferredenzymes are obtained from microbial sources, in particular from afilamentous fungus or yeast, or from a bacterium. The enzyme may, e.g.be derived from a strain of Agaricus, e.g. A. bisporus; Ascovaginospora;Aspergillus, e.g. A. niger, A. awamori, A. foetidus, A. japonicus, A.oryzae; Candida; Chaetomium; Chaetotomastia; Dictyostellum e.g. D.discoideum; Kluveromyces, e.g. K. fragilis, K. lactis; Mucor, e.g. M.javanicus, M. mucedo, M. subtilissimus; Neurospora, e.g. N. crassa;Rhizomucor, e.g. R. pusillus; Rhizopus, e.g. R. arrhizus, R. japonicus,R. stolonifer; Sclerotinia, e.g. S. libertiana; Torula; Torulopsis;Trichophyton, e.g. T. rubrum; Whetzelinia, e.g. W. sclerotiorum;Bacillus, e.g. B. coagulans, B. circulans, B. megaterium, B. novalis, B.subtilis, B. pumilus, stearothermophilus, B. thuringiensis;Bifidobacterium e.g. B. longum, B. bifidum, B. animalis;Chryseobacteriurn; Citrobacter, e.g. C. freundii; Clostridium, e.g. C.perfringens; Diplodia, e.g. D. gossypiria; Enterobacter, e.g. E.aerogenes, E. cloacae Edwardsiella, E. tarda; Erwinia, e.g. E.herbicola; Escherichia, e.g. E. coli; Klebsiella, e.g. K. pneumoniae;Miriococcum; Myrothesium; Mucor; Neurospora, e.g. N. crassa; Proteus,e.g. P. vulgaris; Providencia, e.g. P. stuartii; Pycnoporus e.g.Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Pycnoporus sanguineus; Ruminococcus, e.g. R.torques; Salmonella, e.g. S. typhimurium; Serratia, e.g. S.liquefasciens, S. marcescens; Shigella, e.g. S. flexneri; Streptomyces,e.g. S. antibioticus, S. castaneoglobisporus, S. violeceoruber;Trametes; Trichoderma, e.g. T. reesei, T. viride; Yersinia, e.g. Y.enterocolitica. In one embodiment, the lactase is an intracellularcomponent of microorganisms like Kluyveromyces and Bacillus.Kluyveromyces, especially K. fragilis and K. lactis, and other fungisuch as those of the genera Candida, Torula and Torulopsis, are a commonsource of fungal lactases, whereas B. coagulans and B circulans are wellknown sources for bacterial lactases. Several commercial lactasepreparations derived from these organisms are available such asLactozyrn® (available from Novozymes, Denmark), HA-Lactase (availablefrom Chr. Hansen, Denmark) and Maxilact® (available from DSM, theNetherlands), all from K. lactis. All these lactases are so calledneutral lactases having a pH optimum between pH 6 and pH 8. When suchlactases are used in the production of, e.g. low-lactose yoghurt, theenzyme treatment will either have to be done in a separate step beforefermentation or rather high enzyme dosages have to be used, becausetheir activity drop as the pH decreases during fermentation. Also, theselactases are not suitable for hydrolysis of lactose in milk performed athigh temperature, which would in some cases be beneficial in order tokeep the microbial count low and thus ensure good milk quality.

In one embodiment, the enzyme is a lactase from a bacterium, e.g. fromthe family is Bifidobacteriaceae, such as from the genus Bifidobacteriumsuch as the lactase described in WO 2009/071539.

Further aspects according to the invention:

Aspect 1. An isolated polypeptide having transgalactosylating activityselected from the group consisting of:

-   -   a. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at        least 86% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1,    -   b. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence haying at        least 56% sequence identity to the amine acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2,    -   c. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes        under at least low stringency conditions with i) the nucleic        acid sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO: 10 encoding the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; ii) the cDNA sequence of i) or iii)        the complementary strand of i) or ii);    -   d. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes        under at least low stringency conditions with i) the nucleic        acid sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO: 11 encoding the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; ii) the cDNA sequence of i) or iii)        the complementary strand of i) or ii);    -   e. a polypeptide comprising a conservative substitution,        deletion and/or insertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID        NO: 1,    -   f. a polypeptide comprising a conservative substitution,        deletion and/or insertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID        NO: 2,    -   g. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide comprising a        nucleotide sequence having at least 70% identity to the        nucleotide sequence encoding for the mature polypeptide of SEQ        ID NO: 1 or the nucleotide sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO:10        encoding a mature polypeptide,    -   h. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide comprising a        nucleotide sequence having at least 70% identity to the        nucleotide sequence encoding for the mature polypeptide of SEQ        ID NO: 2 or the nucleotide sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO:11        encoding a mature polypeptide,    -   i. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at        least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence encoding        the transgalatosylase contained in DSM accession no: 20583, and    -   j. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at        least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence encoding        the transgalatosylase, contained in ATCC accession no: 29176.

Aspect 2. The polypeptide according to aspect 1, wherein the polypeptideof above items a, c, e, g and i at the most has a length of 1806 aminoacids and the polypeptide of above items b, d, f, h and j at the mosthas a length of 1767 amino acids

Aspect 3, A polypeptide having transgalactosylating activity selectedfrom the group consisting of:

-   -   a. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at        least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1,    -   b. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at        least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2,    -   c. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes        under at least low stringency conditions with i) the nucleic        acid sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO: 10 encoding the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; ii) the cDNA sequence of i) the        complementary strand of i) or ii);    -   d. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes        under at least low stringency conditions with i) the nucleic        acid sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO: 11 encoding the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; ii) the cDNA sequence of i) or iii)        the complementary strand of i) car ii);    -   e. a polypeptide comprising a conservative substitution,        deletion and/or insertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID        NO: 1, and    -   f. a polypeptide comprising a conservative substitution,        deletion and/or insertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID        NO: 2,

Aspect 4. The polypeptide according to aspect 3, wherein the polypeptideof above items a, c, and e at the most has a length of 1806 amino acidsand the polypeptide of above items h, d, and f at the most has a lengthof 1767 amino acids.

Aspect 5. A polypeptide having transdalactosylating activity selectedfrom the group consisting of:

-   -   a. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at        least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1,    -   b. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes        under at least low stringency conditions with i) the nucleic        acid sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO: 10 encoding the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; ii) the cDNA sequence of i) or iii)        the complementary strand of i) or ii); and    -   c. a polypeptide comprising a conservative substitution,        deletion and/or insertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID        NO: 1.

Aspect 6. The polypeptide according to aspect 5, wherein the polypeptideof above items a, b, and c at the most has a length of 1806 amino acids.

Aspect 7. A polypeptide having transgalactosylating activity selectedfrom the group consisting of:

-   -   a. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at        least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the        mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2,    -   b. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes        under at least low stringency conditions with i) the nucleic        acid sequence comprised in SEQ ID NO: 11 encoding the mature        polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; ii) the cDNA sequence of i) or iii)        the complementary strand of i) or ii); and    -   c. a polypeptide comprising a conservative substitution,        deletion and/or insertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID        NO: 2,

Aspect 8. The polypeptide according to aspect 7, wherein the polypeptideof above items a, b and c at the most has a length of 1767 amino acids.

Aspect 9. The polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1-8 having aratio of transgalactosylating activity: 8-galactosidase activity of atleast 1, at least 2.5, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6,at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, or atleast 12.

Aspect 10. The polypeptide according to any one of aspect 1-9, whereinthe amino add sequence has at east 68%, 70%, 72%, 74%, 76%, 78%, 80%,85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%, sequenceidentity to the mature amino add sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

Aspect 11. The polypeptide according to aspects 1-10 containing thecatalytic domain of glycosyl hydrolase class 2 (GH 2), preferablycontaining one or more Pfam domains selected from: Glyco_hydro2N(PF02837), Glyco_hydro (PF00703), Glyco_hydro 2C (PF02536) and BacterialIg-like domain (group 4) (PF07532).

Aspect 12. The polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1-11comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Aspect 13. The polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1-12 being afragment of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 12.

Aspect 14. The polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1-11comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2

Aspect 15. The polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1-11 and 14being a fragment of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 13.

Aspect 16. A polypeptide having transgalactosylating activity comprisingan amino acid sequence having

-   -   a. at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: and/or    -   b. at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of        SEQ ID NO: 2,

Aspect 17. The polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1-16comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 66% sequence identityto the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Aspect 18. The polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1-17 providedthat the polypeptide is not the beta-galactosidase from Ruminococcushansenii having SEQ ID NO: 12.

Aspect 19. The polypeptide according to any one of aspects 146comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 66% sequence identityto the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

Aspect 20. The polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1-16 and 19provided that the polypeptide is not the beta-galactosidase fromRuminococcus lactaris having SEQ ID NO: 13.

Aspect 21. The polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1-15comprising an amino add sequence having at least 60% sequence identityto the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.

Aspect 22. The polypeptide according to any one of aspects 1-21comprising an amino add sequence having at least 94sequence identity tothe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8.

Aspect 23. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-22containing one or more Pfam domains selected from: Glyco_hydro2N(PF02837), Glyco_hydro (PF00703), Glyco_hydro 2C (PF02836) and BacterialIg-like domain (group 4) (PF07532).

Aspect 24. A polypeptide having a ratio of transgalactosylatingactivity:β-galactosidase activity of at least 1, at least 2.5, at least3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least9, at least 10, at least 11, or at least 12 as measured at aconcentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37° C. and 5 w/w %lactose after 30 minutes reaction.

Aspect 25. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-24,which is derived from Ruminococcus hansenii or Ruminococcus lactaris.

Aspect 26. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 24-25,wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence as defined inany one of aspects 1-23.

Aspect 27. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-26having a ratio of transgalactosylating activity:β-galactosidase activityof at least 1, at least 2.5, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, atleast 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11,or at least 12 as measured at a concentration of 6 LAU/mi in amilk-based assay at 37° C. and 5 w/w % lactose after 30 minutesreaction.

Aspect 28. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-27,wherein the amino acid sequence comprises at least one or more aminoacid residue(s) selected from the following groups:

-   -   a. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/N/Q at a position corresponding to position 576 in SEQ ID        NO: 1,    -   b. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/N/Q at a position corresponding to position 583 in SEQ ID        NO: 1,    -   c. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        E/D/Q/N at a position corresponding to position 592 in SEQ ID        NO: 1 and/or    -   d. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/Q/N at a position corresponding to position 625 in SEQ ID        NO: 1.

Aspect 29. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-28,wherein the amino acid sequence comprises at least one or more aminoacid residue(s) selected from the following groups:

-   -   a. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/N/Q at a position corresponding to position 592 in SEQ ID        NO: 2,    -   b. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/N/Q at a position corresponding to position 604 in SEQ ID        NO: 2,    -   c. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        E/D/Q/N at a position corresponding to position 608 in SEQ ID        NO: 2 and/or    -   d. an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of        D/E/Q/N at a position corresponding to position 641 in SEQ ID        NO: 2.

Aspect 30. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-29,wherein the percentage of identity of one amino acid sequence with, orto, another amino acid sequence is determined by the use of the scorematrix: blosum62mt2 and the VectorNTI Pair wise alignment settings

Settings K-tuple 1 Number of best diagonals 5 Window size 5 Gap Penalty3 Gap opening Penalty 10 Gap extension Penalty 0.1

Aspect 31. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-30,which polypeptide has a transgalactosylating activity such that morethan 20%, more than 30%, more than 40%, and up to 50% of the initiallactose is transgalactosylated as measured at a concentration of 6LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37° C. and 5 w/w % lactose after 30minutes of reaction.

Aspect 32. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-31,which polypeptide has a β-galactosidase activity such that less than80%, less than 70%, less than 60%, less than 50%, less than 40%, lessthan 30%, or less than 20% of the lactose has been hydrolysed asmeasured at a concentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37° C.and 5 w/w % lactose.

Aspect 33. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-32,wherein the activity is measured at a concentration of 3 LAU/ml or 1LAU/ml.

Aspect 34. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-33,wherein the activity is measured 15 minutes after addition ofpolypeptide, 30 minutes after addition of polypeptide, 60 minutes afteraddition of polypeptide, 90 minutes after addition of polypeptide, 120minutes after addition of polypeptide or 180 minutes after addition ofpolypeptide.

Aspect 35. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-34,wherein the amino acid sequence has at least 68%, 70%, 72%, 74%, 76%,78%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%,sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Aspect 36. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-35,wherein the amino acid sequence has at least 80% sequence identity tothe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Aspect 37. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-34,wherein the amino acid sequence has at east 68%, 70%, 72%, 74%, 76%,78%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%,sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

Aspect 38. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-34 and37, wherein the amino acid sequence has at least 80% sequence identityto the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

Aspect 39. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-38,wherein the amino acid sequence has at least 64%, 66%, 68%, 70% 72%,74%, 76%, 78%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or99%, sequence identity to the amino add sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.

Aspect 40. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-39,wherein the amino acid sequence has at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%,sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8.

Aspect 41. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-40,which polypeptide is a recombinant polypeptide.

Aspect 42. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-41,which polypeptide is freeze-dried.

Aspect 43. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-42,which polypeptide is in solution.

Aspect 44. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-43,which polypeptide is isolated.

Aspect 45. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-44,which polypeptide is purified.

Aspect 46. A polypeptide having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

Aspect 47. The polypeptide according to any one of the aspects 1-46having one or more of the following characteristics:

-   -   a) a ratio of transgalactosylating activity:β-galactosidase        activity of at least 1, at least 2.5, at least 3, at least 4, at        least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at        least 10, at least 11, or at least 12 as measured at a        concentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37° C. and 5        w/w % lactose after 30 minutes reaction, and/or    -   b) has a transgalactosylating activity such that more than 20%,        more than 30%, more than 40%, and up to 50% of the initial        lactose has been transgalactosylated as measured at a        concentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-based assay at 37° C. and 5        w/w % lactose after 30 minutes of reaction.

Aspect 48. A nucleic acid capable of encoding a polypeptide according toany one of the aspects 1-47.

Aspect 49. The nucleic acid according to aspect 48 having a nucleic acidsequence which is at least 60% identical to SEQ ID NO: 10 or 11.

Aspect 50. A plasmid comprising a nucleic acid according to any one ofthe aspects 48-49.

Aspect 51. An expression vector comprising a nucleic acid according toany one of the aspects 48-49, or capable of expressing a polypeptideaccording to any one of the aspects 1-47.

Aspect 52. A host cell comprising, preferably transformed with, aplasmid according to aspect 50 or an expression vector according toaspect 51.

Aspect 53. A cell capable of expressing a polypeptide according to anyone of the aspects 1-47.

Aspect 54. The host cell according to aspect 52, or the cell accordingto aspect 53, which is a bacterial, fungal or yeast cell.

Aspect 55. The cell according to aspect 53, wherein the cell is selectedfrom the group consisting of Ruminococcus, Bifidobacterium, Lactococcus,Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Leuconostoc, Escherichia, Bacillus,Streptomyces, Saccharomyces, Kluyverornyces, Candida, Torula, Torulopsisand Aspergillus.

Aspect 56. The cell according to aspect 53, wherein the cell is selectedfrom the group consisting of Ruminococcus hansenii Ruminococcuslactaris, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacteriuminfantis, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactococcus lactis.

Aspect 57. A method of expressing a polypeptide, the method comprisingobtaining a host cell or a cell according to any one of aspects 52-56and expressing the polypeptide from the cell or host cell, andoptionally purifying the polypeptide.

Aspect 58. A method of expressing a polypeptide, the method comprisingobtaining a cell according aspect 53 and expressing the polypeptide fromthe cell, and optionally purifying the polypeptide.

Aspect 59. A composition comprising a polypeptide according to any oneof aspects 1-47, preferably a food composition, more preferably a dairyproduct.

Aspect 60. A composition comprising a polypeptide as defined in any ofaspects 1-47 and a stabilizer.

Aspect 61. A composition comprising a polypeptide as defined in any ofaspects 1-47 and a carbohydrate substrate.

Aspect 62. The composition according to aspect 61, wherein thecarbohydrate substrate is a disaccharide.

Aspect 63, The composition according to aspect 62, wherein thedisaccharide is lactase.

Aspect 64. A method for producing a dairy product by treating amilk-based substrate comprising lactose with a polypeptide having aratio of transgalactosylating activity:β-galactosidase activity of atleast 1, at least 2.5, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6,at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, or atleast 12 as measured at a concentration of 6 LAU/ml in a milk-basedassay at 37° C. and 5 w/w % lactose after 30 minutes reaction.

Aspect 65. A method for producing a food product by treating a substratecomprising lactose with a polypeptide as defined in any one of aspects1-47.

Aspect 66. A method for producing a dairy product by treating amilk-based substrate comprising lactose with a polypeptide according toany one of aspects 1-47.

Aspect 67. The method according to any one of aspects 64-66 furthertreating the substrate with a hydrolysing beta-galactosidase.

Aspect 68. The method according to any one of aspects 64-67, wherein thepolypeptide has a ratio of transgalactosylation activity as defined inaspect 64.

Aspect 69. The method according to any one of aspects 64-68, wherein themilk-based substrate is yoghurt, cheese, or fermented dairy products.

Aspect 70. The method according to any one of aspects 64-69 furthercomprising fermenting said substrate with a microorganism capable offermenting said substrate.

Aspect 71. The method according to any one of aspects 64-70, whereinsubstrate such as the milk-based substrate is yogurt.

Aspect 72. The method according to any one of aspects 64-71, wherein thetreatment with the polypeptide and the microorganism is performedessentially at the same time.

Aspect 73. The method according to any one of aspects 64-72, wherein thepolypeptide and the microorganism are added to the milk-hared substrateessentially at the same time.

Aspect 74. The method according to any one of aspects 64-73, wherein thepolypeptide Is derived from a microorganism of the genus Ruminococcus.

Aspect 75. Use of a cell of any one of aspects 53 and 55-56 forproducing a product selected from the group consisting of yoghurt,cheese, fermented milk product, dietary supplement and probioticcomestible product.

Aspect 76. A food product, preferably a dairy product, comprising atransgalactosylating enzyme obtained from Ruminococcus hansenii orRuminococcus lactaris, preferably as defined in item a-h in aspect 1,and more preferably a polypeptide as defined in any one of aspects 1-47.

Aspect 77. A dairy product comprising a cell of any one of aspects 53and 55-56.

Aspect 78. A dairy product comprising a polypeptide as defined in anyone of aspects 1-47.

Aspect 79. A dairy product comprising a polypeptide as defined in anyone of aspects 1-47 in a concentration of 0.01-1000 ppm.

Aspect 80. A dairy product comprising an inactivated polypeptide asdefined in any one of aspects 1-47.

Aspect 81. A dairy product comprising an inactivated polypeptide asdefined in any one of aspects 1-47 in a concentration of 0.01-1000 ppm.

Aspect 82. A dairy product comprising GOS formed in situ by apolypeptide as defined in any one of aspects 1-27.

Aspect 83. Use of a transgalactosylating polypeptide of any one ofaspects 1-47 or a cell of any one of aspects 53 and 55-56, for producinggalacto-oligosaccharides.

Aspect 84. Use of a transgalactosylating polypeptide of any one ofaspects 1-47 or a cell of any one of aspects 53 and 55-56, for producinggalacto-oligosaccharides to be part of a product selected from the groupconsisting of yoghurt, cheese, fermented dairy products, dietarysupplements and probiotic comestible products.

Aspect 85. Use of a transgalactosylating polypeptide of any one ofaspects 1-47 or a cell of any one of aspects 53 and 55-56, for producinggalacto-oligosaccharides to enhance the growth of Bifidobacterium.

Aspect 86. Use of a transgalactosylating polypeptide of any one ofaspects 1-47 or a cell of any one of aspects 53 and 55-56, for producinggalacto-oligosaccharides to enhance the growth of Bifidobacterium in amixed culture fermentation.

Aspect 87. A process for producing a transgalactosylating polypeptide ofany one of aspects 1-47, comprising culturing a cell of any one ofaspects 53 and 55-56 in a suitable culture medium under conditionspermitting expression of said polypeptide, and recovering the resultingpolypeptide from the culture.

Aspect 88. A process for producing galacto-oligosaccharides, comprisingcontacting of an polypeptide of any one of aspects 1-47 or a cell of anyone of aspects 53 and 55-56 with a milk-based solution comprisinglactose.

Aspect 89. A galacto-oligosaccharide or composition thereof obtained bytreating a substrate comprising lactose with a polypeptide as defined inany one of aspects 1-47.

EXAMPLE 1 Production of Polypeptide

A synthetic Ruminococcus hansenii gene with codons optimised forexpression in Bacillus subtilis was purchased from GeneART (Regensburg,Germany). The synthetic gene was cloned into the pBN Bacillus subtilisexpression vector (FIG. 1) and transformed into the Bacillus subtilisstrain BG6006. Transformants were restreaked twice onto LB platescontaining 10 μg/mL Neomycin as selection.

A preculture was setup in LB media containing 10 μg/mL Neomycin andcultivated for 7 hours at 37° C. and 180 rpm shaking. 500 μl of thispreculture was used to inoculate 50 mL Grant's modified mediumcontaining 10 μg/mL Neomycin at allowed to grow for 48 hours at 33° C.and 180 rpm shaking.

Cultures were harvested by centrifugation at 10.000×g and sterilefiltered. The fermentation broths were up-concentrated using SartoriusVivaspin20 MWCO 10,000 Dalton (Product code VS2002) at 4000 rpm in atabletop centrifuge. The concentrate was stabilised with 20 w/w %glycerol.

Grant's modified media was prepared according to the followingdirections:

PART I (Autoclave) Soytone 10 g Bring to 500 mL per liter PART II 1MK₂HPO₄ 3 mL Glucose 75 g Urea 3.6 g Grant's 10X MOPS 100 mL Bring to 400mL per liter

PART I (2 w/w % Soytone) was prepared, and treated in an autoclave for20-25 mins.

PART II was prepared, and mixed with PART 1 and pH was adjusted to pH to7.3 with HCl/NaOH.

The volume was brought to full volume and sterilized through 0.22-um PESfilter.

b 10×MOPS Buffer was re tired according to the following directions:

83.72 g Tricine 7.17 g KOH Pellets 12 g NaCl 29.22 g 0.276M K2SO4 10 mL0.528M MgCl2 10 mL Grant's Micronutrients 100X Bring to 100 mL.

100× Micronutrients was prepared according to the following directions:

Sodium Citrate•2H2O 1.47 g  CaCl2•2H2O 1.47 g  FeSO4•7H2O 0.4 gMnSO4•H2O 0.1 g ZnSO4•H2O 0.1 g CuCl2•2H2O 0.05 g  CoCl2•6H2O 0.1 gNa2MoO4•2H2O 0.1 g

The volume was reached with milliQ water,

Sterilization was through 0.2 um PES filter;

Protection from light was by wrapping in foil.

Storing was at 4C.

Determining the Hydrolysis Activity of the Enzyme Preparations

Enzymatic activity of Ruminococcus hansenii (SEQ ID NO:1), Ruminococcuslactaris (SEQ ID NO:2) and Bifidobacterium bifidum BIF3d3 (truncated)(as described by Jørgensen et al. (2001), Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol.,57: 647-652 and EP patent 1,283,876) were measured using thecommercially available substrate 2-Nitrophenyl-β-D-Galactopyranoside(ONPG) (Sigma N1127).

1×ONPG buffer composition

50 mM Na-Citrate 100 mM  NaPO4  2 mM CaCL2  1 mM MgCL2 20 mM ONPG

Dilution series of above enzymes and Lactozym® (from Novozymes) as astandard control were made in 96 well microtiter plates. 75 μl of thedilutions were transferred to a new microtiter plate and mixed with 75μl of 2× concentrated ONPG-buffer. Absorbance measurements were recordedat 450 nm on a Molecular Device SpectraMax controlled by the Softmaxsoftware package. The chamber was equilibrated to 37° C. and recordingswere made every 15 seconds for 10 min in total. The ONP generation wasmeasured and the Vmax of the reaction was determined. The Vmax for eachenzyme preparation was compared to known concentrations of (3000 LAU/ml)Lactozym® and the activity in LAU/ml were calculated from the Lactozym®standard (see Table 1 below).

TABLE 1 Enzyme LAU/ml Lactozym ® 3000 Bifidobacterium bifidum BIF3d3(truncated)* 105 Ruminococcus lactaris (SEQ ID NO: 2) 45 Ruminococcushansenii (SEQ ID NO: 1) 42

EXAMPLE 2 Definition of GOS Producing Enzyme Unit

In the present application the relative transgalactosylation activity isdefined as the difference between the amount of liberated glucosesubtracted by the amount of liberated galactose divided by the amount ofgalactose generated in T-buffer at 37° C.

$\begin{matrix}{{{Relative}\mspace{14mu} {transgalactosylation}\mspace{14mu} {activity}} = \frac{\lbrack{Glucose}\rbrack - \lbrack{Galactose}\rbrack}{\lbrack{Glucose}\rbrack}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 1}\end{matrix}$

T-buffer was prepared as follows:

50 mM Na-citrate 100 mM Na—PO4 2 mM CaCl2 1 mM MgCl2 5 w/w % Lactose pH6.0

Measuring Galactose and Glucose by HPLC Chromatography

Galactose and glucose were analysed using a Dionex IC53000 systemconsisting of ICS-3000 AS Autosampler, ICS-3000 ED Detector, ICS-3000 DCChromatography Module and a DP Gradient pump (Dionex Corp, Sunnyvale,Calif., USA).

Galactose and glucose were separated using a CarboPac PA1 column 4 mm.with a CarboPac PA1 4 mm guard column (Dionex Corp, Sunnyvale, Calif.,USA). The flow was 1 mL/min. The gradient was performed according totable 2, and the quantification was made with the use of externalstandards.

TABLE 2 Gradient program (w/w %) used for analysis of monosaccharides insamples Time (min) Milli Q water 150 mM NaOH  0-12 90%-85% 10%-15% 12-2585%-0%   15%-100% 25-30  0% 100% 30-32  0%-90% 100%-10%  32-34 90%  10%

The used eluents were water and 150 nM NaOH. 150 mM NaOH (eluent) wasprepared by degassing 2L Milli Q water for 10 min and adding 16 mL 50%w/w NaOH and degassing for another 5 min.

Calculation of Trangolactuylation Activity

The relative transgalactosylation activity was calculated according toequation 1 and the concentrations of glucose and galactose were measuredby HPLC.

TABLE 3 Galactose concentration in %: Time/min 0 15 30 60 120 180Lactozym ® 0 1.5 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.1 Bifidobacterium bifidum 0 0.5 1 1 1 0.9BIF3d3 (truncated) Ruminococcus hansenii 0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 (SEQ IDNO: 1) Ruminococcus lactaris 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 (SEQ ID NO: 2)

TABLE 4 Glucose concentration in %: Time/min 0 15 30 60 120 180Lactozym ® 0 1.9 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.2 Bifidobacterium bifidum 0 1.5 1.8 1.81.6 1.8 BIF3d3 (truncated) Ruminococcus hansenii 0 0.7 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3(SEQ ID NO: 1) Ruminococcus lactaris 0 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.8 (SEQ ID NO:2)

TABLE 5 Ratio of transgalactosylating activity: β-galactosidaseactivity: Time/min 0 15 30 60 120 180 Lactozym ® nd 0.27 0.21 0.10 0.040.05 Bifidobacterium bifidum nd 2.00 0.80 0.80 0.60 1.00 BIF3d3(truncated) Ruminococcus hansenii nd 6.00 12.00 5.00 5.50 5.50 (SEQ IDNO: 1) Ruminococcus lactaris nd 3.00 4.00 7.00 2.50 1.67 (SEQ ID NO: 2)nd: Not determined for this timepoint.

TABLE 6 Relative transgalactosylation activity in %: Time/min 0 15 30 60120 180 Lactozym ® nd 21.05 17.39 8.70 4.17 4.55 Bifidobacterium bifidumnd 66.67 44.44 44.44 37.50 50.00 BIF3d3 (truncated) Ruminococcushansenii nd 85.71 92.31 83.33 84.62 84.62 (SEQ ID NO: 1) Ruminococcuslactaris nd 75.00 80.00 87.50 71.43 62.50 (SEQ ID NO: 2) nd: Notdetermined for this timepoint.

FIG. 2 displays the accumulation of glucose and galactose over time. Asis clearly evident from FIG. 2 and the tables above, the Ruminococcushansenii (SEQ ID NO:1) and Ruminococcus lacteris (SEQ ID NO:2) enzymesgenerate only between 10-20% of galactose relative to theBifidobacterium bifidu BIF3d3 (truncated) enzyme. These finding suggestthat both the Ruminococcus hansenii (SEQ ID NO:1) and Ruminococcuslactaris (SEQ ID NO:2) enzymes are able to exclude water from the activesite more efficiently than Lactozyrn® and the Bifidobacterium bifidumBIF3d3 (truncated) enzyme.

EXAMPLE 3 Assay in Milk

Samples were prepared in 9 w/w % reconstituted milk from skimmed milkpowder (Humana Milk Union, DE NW508 EG) giving a final concentration oflactose of 5 w/w %. The enzymes were dosed based upon the LAU activitydetermined as described above at a final concentration of 6 LAU/ml. Asample was taken prior to addition of enzyme and additional samples weretaken at indicated time points and the enzymes immediately inactivatedby incubating at 95° C. for 10 minutes. Samples were diluted 1:10 and 2μL were applied onto activated (161° C. for 10 min) HPTLC silica gel 60(Merck Cat#1.05641.0001) plates with a CAMAG Automatic TLC Sampler 4.The TLC plates were eluted with an eluent containing (80) Acetonitril:(20) Ethylacetat: (50) 1-Propanol: (40) Water. Samples were visualisedby heating (161° C. for 10 min) and allowed to cool down before soakingin 5 w/w % H2SO4 in 99.9% ethanol. Plates were developed with heating161° C. for 3 min.

TABLE 7 Composition of standards: Std A conc Std B conc Std C conc (w/w%) (w/w %) (w/w %) Glucose 0.5 0.4 0.1 Lactose 0.3 0.2 0.5 Galactose 0.10.05 0.3

The sample number in FIG. 3 is as shown in below table.

Sample Number:

1 Std A 8 Lactozym ® 120 15 B. bifidum 180 22 R. lactaris 0 min 2 Std B9 Lactozym ® 180 16 R. hansenii 0 min 23 R. lactaris 15 min 3 Std C 10B. bifidum 0 min 17 R. hansenii 15 min 24 R. lactaris 30 min 4Lactozym ® 0 min 11 B. bifidum 15 min 18 R. hansenii 30 min 25 R.lactaris 60 min 5 Lactozym ® 15 min 12 B. bifidum 30 min 19 R. hansenii60 min 26 R. lactaris 120 min 6 Lactozym ® 30 min 13 B. bifidum 60 min20 R. hansenii 120 min 27 R. lactaris 180 min 7 Lactozym ® 60 min 14 B.bifidum 120 21 R. hansenii 180 min

FIG. 3 shows the sugar composition of the milk at various time pointsduring incubation. Whereas Lactozym® generates approximately equalamounts of glucose and galactose, the Bifidobacterium bifidum BIF3d3(truncated), Ruminococcus hansenii (SEQ ID NO:1) and Ruminococcuslactaris (SEQ ID NO:2) enzymes all generate more glucose than galactose.These results are indicative of all these enzymes being able to performtransgalactosylation in reconstituted milk with an initial lactoseconcentration of 5 w/w %.

EXAMPLE 4 Activity of Catahrtic Core Mutants of Ruminococcus hansenii

Purification of the Enzyme from Crude Samples

Crude enzymes samples were obtained as described in example 1.

Purification Method

Ion Exchange chromatography, Q HiTrap HP FF 5 ml

The column was prepared as described by the manufacturer andequilibrated in 20 mM Tris/HCl buffer, pH 8.0 (Buffer A).

The sample (5 ml) was desalted in Buffer A and applied to the column ata flow rate of 4 ml/min. The column was washed with buffer A and thebound proteins were eluted with a linear gradient of 0-0.6 M NaCl inbuffer A. During the entire run fractions of 4 ml were collected.

Activity Assay

90 μL reaction buffer was mixed with 30 μL of the indicated dilutedsample (table 8) of enzyme in a 96-well Eppendorf twin tech PCR plate(Cat. 951020401) and incubated for 30 minutes at 42° C. in an EppendorfMastercycler Gradient PCR machine. The reaction was stopped bytransferring the mixture to a Costar 9017 96-well plate containing 120μL 10% Na-carbonate (Stop solution). The reactions were measured at 420nm in a Molecular Devices Spectra Max 190 plate reader.

TABLE 8 Protein, μg/ml Diluted OD420 Time/min Activity/min, % E592Q 6210X 0.011 25 3 Frac. 13 D625N 11  2X 0.168 25 50 Frac. 14 D588N 6  1X0.019 25 6 Frac. 14 D576N 29  5X 0.270 5 81 Frac. 17 WT 33  5.5x 0.335 5100 Frac. 17

Protein concentrations were adjusted to that of sample D588N by dilutingWith 50 mM Na-P buffer (ph 7.0) and activity was measured as describedabove.

Table 8 shows the protein concentration in the indicated fractions, foldof dilution to reach the concentration of 0588N, the 00420 measurement,reaction time in minutes and relative activity per min to theRuminococcus hansenii wild type enzyme (WT).

FIG. 4 shows the results of the anion exchange chromatography of theabove variants of the Ruminococcus hansenii (SEQ ID NO:1). The gel is aNu-PAGE 4-12% acrylamide gel stained with coomassie brilliant bluestaining.

Lane Sample 1 E592Q Crude 2 Frac. 13 Eluate 3 Frac. 14 Eluate 4 D625NCrude 5 Frac. 14 Eluate 6 Frac. 15 Eluate 7 D588N Crude 8 Frac. 14Eluate 9 Frac. 17 Eluate 13 D576N Crude 14 Frac. 17 Eluate 15 Frac. 18Eluate 16 WT Crude 17 Frac. 17 Eluate 18 Frac. 18 Eluate

LIST OF SEQUENCES SEQ ID NO: 1 is a 1125 amino add truncatedfragment of SEQ ID NO: 12:KADSQTQMSS EPEQVAVKDY GSNSARTQNF DSDWKPNLGD VSNAQTPTFD DSKWRTLSLP   60HDYSTEQEYS QSLEAESGYL PGGVGWYRKN PTLGEEAKGK RIRIDPDGVY MNATVYVNGK  120EVGTRPYGYT PFSFDITDYI SYDKENTIAV KVDHQTPSSR WYSGSGIYPS VNLTTTNDVR  180VDLNGIKVES NNLEKEAGKT VNTDVKTTVV NGSKEAKNIT ITRTVPKKGE KPDKAIGTFT  240TEAQEIGAGK KTEISATVPV KNPELWSVEN PALYTIRTEV KAGDKLLDSY DTEYGFRYLN  300FDTETGPQLN GKNVKLKGVC MRHDQGALGA VANRRAIERQ VEILQEMGCN SIRVTHNPAS  360KDLIEVCNEK GILVIEEVRD GWHRAKNGNS NDYSVWPEKA IEEDNAILGK EADMTWAEYD  420LKAIMKRDQN APSIIEWSLG NEIQEGAGGS GYAERADKLI KWAKEADATK TLTIGSNAVK  480PGDWEQVSIG DKLTKAGGTS GTNYSDGASY DKIHKSHPDW KLYGSETASS VNSRGIYSVT  540GNQEATSDQQ LTAYDNSRVN WGALASQAWY DVIQPDPVAG KYVWTGFDYI GEPTPWNGTD  600PGAKGTWPSP KNSYPGIIDT AGPPKDSYYF YQSQWNEEVN TLRVLPAWNE DVVKKNSDGT  660VPVVVYSDAK EVELPRTPAN GGEKKSLGKK TFKTETTKAG YSYQVLENGK KKHKDLYMEW  720QVPYEAGTLE AVAKDADGNV IKDTWGESVV KTTGEEAKLS AKTDRNSIQA DGKDLSYITV  780DVTDKDGNIV PDAANRVTHD VQGAGKLVGV DNGSSPDRDS YKADNRKAFS GKVLAIVQST  840EKAGEITVTA KADGLESSTV KITTTPVKEE PSERYVESYK YSKSYYVKTG TKPQLPKKIE  900AQYSDRTKED VAVKWDEISD EQISKTGSFT VEGTVGKRDI TVRINMIDDV AALLNYSGAT  960QKGVKPQLPD VRPAVLPDGT VLAASFPVQW DEKDADTFQK PDEIVTVNGS ADIFGKTIPV 1020TASIRVQKED IKIGSSVTNV AKLSQNIQGS DTLEAIKDGK TEMSLNNDGG PNESAWSNWD 1080ASQKGTKEAE LTFTFDTQQR IGEIVIHPAK DNNSIRHPDA GTTEI 1125SEQ ID NO: 2 is 1150 amino acid truncated fragment of SEQ ID NO: 13:AGVSVPALAQ QAVRTESQTQ MSSDPELVYV NNYSSTAQRS QNPNSNWKPY FGDAGNAQGA   60TFDDSKWEQV SLPHDYSISQ EYSKSMEAES GYLGGGTGWY RKNFTLSSDT QGKPVRIDFD  120GVYMNATVWV NGHEVGTHPY GYTSPSFDIT DYVKYDGENT IAVKVVNNTP SSRWYSGSGI  180YPDVDLTITD DVHVDLNGTK TVVPNLETEK GSTVNTDVTA TVANDSDAAK SVAVRHTVFP  240KDGSADQSIG TVTTNAQSIA AGATAEIQAT VPVSNPELWS VENPSLYTVR TEVLVDGQVT  300DTYDTEYGFR YFNFDSNTGF SLNGENMKLK GVCMHHDQGS LGAAAYDSAI DRQVKILKEM  360GCNSIRVTHN PAAQDLIDAC NEQGILVVEE APDTWTRPKN GNSNDYSVWF NQTVASDNEI  420LGATNGETWA QFDLESMISR DYNAPSVIMW SLGNEVMEGI SGGTDAEYEA YATLKINWAY  480DADNTRPMTI GDNKLKANWQ ISKTFARLLT EKGGTVGFNY ADGRVLDSYH SSNSNWLLYG  540SETASAINSR GIYYRTTGGG QTSDKQLTSY DNSNVGWGAT ASNAWYTVLT RDFAAGEYVW  600TGFDYLGEPT PWNGTGSGAV GSWPSPKNSY FGIIDTAGFA KDSYYFYQSQ WNDDVTTLHV  660LPAWNNNVVS PDSSGNVPVV VYSDAASVEL FPQAKGSDTK TSLGKKTHTQ KTTDAGYTYQ  720IYEGSDKNST TDKNLYLTWN VPYADGTVSA VAYNSNGQKI TDTVGQSSVT TTGKASKLKA  780SADHKKIAAD GESLSYITVD VTDANGNIVP DAENPVKFTV EGDGELVGVD NGSSPDHDSY  840QADNPKAFSG KVLAIVKSTK EAGTITVTAS ADGLDSASVK ITTTAVDNGS TEKQIDSFKM  900SPTYYVKVGS TPELPEKIVT RYTDGTSEEL PVTWDAITED QIAAAGSFQV KGTVKGGYSV  960AVNVNMIDEV GGLLNYSTNT AVGVAPVLPT SPPAVLQDGT VMDVTFPVTW EDKAASAYDK 1020AGTVTVNGTA NVLGKEIAVT ASVRVQEETI TIGDSVSADA LNLTQSVPAD KQSDTLNAIK 1080DGSTTISSNT SGGANPTVWS NYDYSQDGNT TADIIPEYAT EQRLGQTVTH EARDSWSMRY 1140PDAGATEIYV 1150 SEQ ID NO: 3 is amino acid residues 559-649of SEQ ID No: 1:VNWGALASQA WYDVIQRDFV AGEYVWTGFD YIGEPTPWNG TDPGAKGTWP SPKNSYFGII   60DTAGPPKDSY YFYQSQWNEE VNTLAVLPAW N   91SEQ ID NO: 4 is amino acid residues 579-649 of SEQ ID No: 1:AGEYVWTGFD YIGEPTPWNG TDPGAKGTWP SPKNSYFGII DTAGFPKDSY YFYQSQWNEE   60VNTLHVLPAW N   71 SEQ ID NO: 5 is amino acid residues 579-636of SEQ ID No: 1:AGEYVWTGFD YIGEPTPWNG TDPGAKGTWP SPKNSYFGII DTAGFPKDSY YFYQSQWN   58SEQ ID NO: 6 is amino acid residues 575-665 of SEQ ID No: 2:VGWGATASNA WYTVLTPDFA AGEYVWTGFD YLGEPTPWNG TGSGAVGSWP SPKNSYFGII   60DTAGPAKDSY YPYQSQWNDD VTTLHVLPAW N   91SEQ ID NO: 7 is amino acid residues 594-665 of SEQ ID No: 2:AGEYVWTGFD YLGEPTPWNG TGSGAVGSWP SPKNSYFGYI DTAGFAKDSY YFYQSQWNDD   60VTTLHVLPAW N   71 SEQ ID NO: 8 is amino acid residues 594-652of SEQ ID No: 2:AGEYVWTGFD YLGEPTPWNG TGSGAVGSWP SPKNSYFGII DTAGPAKDSY YFYQSQWN   58SEQ ID NO: 9 is a signal peptide from the pBNBacillus subtilis expression vector: VRSKKLWISLLFALALIFTMAFGSTSSAQASEQ ID NO: 10 is the nucleotide sequence encodingSEQ ID NO: 1 including sequence encoding the signal peptide:gtgagaagcaaaaaattgtggatcagtttgctgtttgctttagcgttaatctttacgatggcgttcggcagcacatccagcgcgcaggcggcagggaaaaaagcagatagccaaacacaaatgtcatcagaaccggaacaagttgcggttaaagattatggctcaaatagcgcacgcacacagaattttgatagcgattggaaatttaacctgggagatgttagcaatgcacagacaccgacatttgatgattcaaaatggcgcacactgtcactgccgcatgattatagcatcgaacaggaatattcacaatcactggaagcagaatcaggctatcttccgggaggcgttggctggtatcgcaaaaattttacactgggcgaagaagcgaaaggcaaacgcattcgcattgattttgatggcgtctatatgaatgcaacagtctatgtgaatggcaaagaagttggcacacatccgtatggctatacaccgtttagctttgatatcacagattatatcagctatgataaagaaaacacaattgcggtcaaagtcgatcatcaaacaccgtcatcaagatggtattcaggcagcggcatttatagatcagtcaacctgacaacaacaaatgatgtccatgtcgatctgaatggcattaaagtcgaaagcaacaacctggaaaaagaagcaggcaaaacagtcaacacagatgtgaaaacaacagttgtgaacggctcaaaagaagcgaaaaacatcacaattacacatacagtctttaaaaaaggcgaaaaaccggataaagcgatcggcacatttacaacagaagcgcaagaaattggcgcaggcaaaaaaacagaaatcagcgcaacagtcacggttaaaaatccggaactgtggtcagttgaaaatccggcactgtatacaattcgcacagaagttaaagcaggcgataaactgctggatagctatgatacagaatatggctttcattatctgaactttgatacagaaacaggctttcagctgaatggcaaaaacgttaaactgaaaggcgtttgcatgcatcatgatcaaggcgcacttggcgcagttgcaaatagaagagcaattgaacgccaagtcgaaattctgcaagaaatgggctgcaatagcattagagtcacacataatccggcaagcaaagatctgattgaagtctgcaacgaaaaaggcattctggtcattgaagaagtttttgacggctggcatagagcaaaaaatggcaacagcaacgattatagcgtctggtttgaaaaagcgatcgaagaagataacgcgattctgggaaaagaagcggatatgacttgggcagaatatgatctgaaagcgattatgaaacgcgatcaaaatgcaccgagcattattgaatggtcactgggcaatgaaattcaagaaggcgcaggcggatcaggctatgcagaaagagcggataaactgatcaaatgggcgaaagaagcagacgcaacaaaaacactgacaattggcagcaatgtagttaaaagaggcgattgggaacaagttagcatcggcgataaacttacaaaagcaggcggaacatcaggcacaaattattcagatggcgcatcatatgataaaattcataaagaacatccggattggaaactgtatggctcagaaacagcatcatcagttaatagccgtggcatttattcagttacaggcaatcaagaagcaacaagcgatcaacaactgacagcgtatgataatagcagagttaattggggagcactggcatcacaagcatggtatgatgttatccagagagattttgtcgcaggcgaatatgtttggacaggctttgattatatcggcgaaccgacaccgtggaatggcacagatccgggagcaaaaggcacatggccgtcaccgaaaaacagctactttggcattatcgatacagcaggctttccgaaagattcatattatttttatcagagccagtggaatgaagaagtcaatacactgcacgttcttccggcatggaatgaagatgtcgtcaaaaaaaactcagatggcacagttccggttgttgtttattcagatgcgaaagaagtcgaactgttttttacaccggcaaatggcgqagaaaaaaaaagcctgggaaaaaaaacatttaaaacagaaacaacaaaagctggctatagctatcaagttctggaaaacggcaaaaaaaaacataaagatctgtatatggaatggcaagttccgtatgaagcaggcacacttgaagcagttgcgaaagatgcaaaaggcaacgtcattaaagatacagaaggcagaagcgtcgttaaaacaacaggcgaagaagcaaaactgtcagcaaaaacggatcgcaatagcattcaagcagatggcaaagatctgtcatatattacagtcgatgtcacagataaagatggcaatattgttccggatgcagcaaatagagtcacatttgatgtccaaggcgcaggaaaactggttggcgttgataatggctcatcaccggatcatgatagctataaagcggataaccgcaaagcattttcaggcaaagttctggcaattgttcagtcaacagaaaaagcaggcgaaattacagttacagcaaaagcagatggcctggaatcaagcacagtcaaaatcacaacaacaccggttaaagaagaaccgagcgaaagatatgtcgaaagctataaatacagcaaaagctattatgtgaaaacaggcacaaaaccgcaactgccgaaaaaaattgaagcgcagtatagcgatcgcacaaaagaggatgttgcggtcaaatgggatgaaatctcagatgaacaaattagcaaaacaggcagctttacagttgaaggcacagttggcaaaagagatatcacagtcaacattaacatgatcgatgatgttgcagcactgctgaattattcaggcgcaacacaaaaaggcgttaaaccgcaacttccggatgttagaccggcagttctgcctgatggcacagtcctggcagcatcatttccggttcagtgggatgaaaaagatgcggatacatttcagaaaccggatgaaattgttacagttaacggcagcgcagatatctttggcaaaacaattccggttacagcaagcattagagtgcagaaagaagatatcaaaattggcagcagcgttacaaatgttgcaaaactgagccaaaatattcaaggcagcgatacactggaagcaatcaaagatggcaaaacagaaatgagcctgaataatgatggcggaccgaatgaatcagcatggtcaaattgggatgcatcacagaaaggcacaaaagaagccgaactgacatttacatttgatacacagcaacgcattggcgaaattgtcattcattttgcgaaagataacaactcaatcagatttccggatgctggcacaacagaaatctaaSEQ ID NO: 11 is the nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 includingsequence encoding the signal peptide:gtggatcagtttgctgtttgctttagcgttaatctttacgatggcgttcggcagcacatccagcgcgcaggcggcagggaagcaggcgtttcagttccggcactggcacaacaagcagttagaacagaaagccaaacacaaatgtcatcagatccggaactggtctatgtgaataactatagcagcacagcacaaagaagccagaactttaacagcaactggaaattctacttcggagatgcgggaaatgcacaaggcgcaacatttgatgatagcaaatgggaacaagtttcactgccgcatgattattcaatcagccaagaatatagcaaatcaatggaagcagaatcaggctatcttggcggaggcacaggctggtatcgcaaaaattttacactgagcagcgatacacaaggcaaaagagtccgcattgattttgatggcgtctatatgaatgcaacagtttgggttaatggccatgaagttggcacacatccgtatggctatacaagctttagctttgatatcacagattatgtgaaatatgatggcgaaaacacaattgcagtcaaagtcgtcaataatacaccgtcaagcagatggtattcaggctcaggcatttatagagatgtcgatgacaatcacagatgatgttcatgttgatctgaacggcacaaaagttacaacaccgaacctggaaacagaaaaaggcagcacagtcaatacagatgttacagcaacagttgcgaatgattcagatacagcaaaatcagttgcagttcgccatacagtttttccgaaagatggcagcgcagatcaatcaattggcacagtcacaacaaatgcacaatcaattgcagcaggcgcaacagcagaaattcaagcaacggttccggtttcaaatcctgaactgtggtcagttgaaaatccgtcactgtatacagtcagaacagaagttctggtcgacggccaagtcacagatacatatgatacagaatatggctttcgctattttaactttgatagcaacacaggcttttcactgaatggcgaaaatatgaaactgaaaggcgtctgcatgcatcatgatcaaggctcacttggcgcagcagcatacgactcagcaattgatcgccaggtcaaaatcctgaaagaaatgggctgcaatagcattagagtcacacataatccggcagcacaagatctgattgatgcgtgcaatgaacaaggcattctggttgttgaagaagcgtttgatacttggacaagaccgaaaaatggcaacagcaacgattatagcgtctggtttaatcagacagttgcgagcgataatgaaattctgggagcgacaaatggcgaaacatgggcacaatttgatctggaaagcatgatctcacgcgattataatgcaccgtcagtcattatgtggtcactgggcaatgaagttatggaaggcattagcggaggcacagatgcagaatatgaagcgacagcgacgaaactgattaactgggcgtatgatgcggataatacacgtccgatgacaattggcgataacaaactgaaagcgaactggcagatctcaaaaacatttgcgagactgctgacagaaaaaggcggaacagtgggctttaattatgcagatggcagagttctggattcatatcatagcagcaatagcaattggctgctgtatggctcagaaacagcatcagcgattaatagccgtggcatctattatagaacaacaggcggaggccaaacatcagataaacagctgacaagctatgataattcaaatgttggctggggagcaacagcatcaaatgcatggtatacagttctgacaagagattttgcggcaggcgaatatgtttggacaggctttgattatctgggcgaaccgacaccgtggaatggcacaggctcaggcgcagttggctcatggccgtcaccgaaaaattcttattttggcattatcgatacagcaggcttcgcaaaagatagctattatttttatcagagccagtggaatgatgatgttacaacactgcatgttcttccggcatggaataataatgtcgtcagcaaagattcatcaggcaatgttccggttgttgtttattcagatgcggcatcagtcgaactgttttttcaagcaaaaggcagcgatacaaaaacaagcctgggcaaaaaaacatttacacagaaaacaacagacgcaggctatacatatcagatctatgaaggctcagataaaaacagcacaacagacaaaaacctgtatctgacatggaatgttccgtatgcagatggaacagtttcagcagttgcgtataatagcaacggccagaaaattacagatacagttggccagtcctcagttacaacaacaggcaaagcgtcaaaactgaaagcatcagcggatcataaaaaaattgcagcggatggcgaatcactgtcatatatcacagtcgatgtcacagatgcgaatggcaatattgttccggatgcagaaaatcgcgtcaaatttacagttgaaggcgatggcgaactggttggcgttgataatggctcatcaccggatcatgattcatatcaagcggataaccgcaaagcattttcaggcaaagttctggcaattgtgaaaagcacaaaagaagctggcacaattacagttacagcatcagcagatggcctggattcagcatcagtcaaaatcacaacaacagcagtcgataatggcagcacagaaaaacaaatcgatagcttaaaatgagccgcacatattatgttaaagttggcagcacaccggaactgccggaaaaaattgtcacacgctatacagatggcacatcagaagaactgcctgttacttgggatgcaattacagaagatcaaattgcagcagcaggctcatttcaagttaaaggcacagtcaaaggcggatattcagttacagtcaacgtcaacatgattgatgaagttggcggactgctgaattattcaacaaatacagcagttggcgttgcaccggttctgccgacatcaagaccggcagttctgcaagatggcacagttatggatgttacatttccggtcacatgggaagataaagcagcaagcgcatatgataaagcaggcacagtgacagtcaatggcacagcaaatgttctgggcaaagaaattgcagttacagcgagcgttagagttcaggaagaaacaatcacaattggagattcagtttcagcggatgcactgaatctgacacaaagcgttccggcagataaacaaagcgatacactgaacgcaattaaagatggctcaacaacaattagctcaaatacaagcggaggcgcaaatccgacagtttggagcaactatgactatagccaggatggcaatacgacagcggatatcatttttgaatatgcgacagaacaaagactgggccaaatcgttacacattttgcgagagatagctggtcaatgagatatcctgatgcaggcgctacagaaatttatgtctaa SEQ ID NO: 12 is a beta-galactosidase from Ruminococcus/Bleutiahansenil DSM 20583:myffgrsaimmltvktrkelfmrkqrlarigaatlaavltvqgrngfsstvyakeepvrvkadsqtqmssepeqvavkdygsnsartqnfdsdwkfnlgdvsnaqtptfddskwrtlslphdysieqeysqsleaesgylpggvgwyrknftlgeeakgkriridfdgvymnatvyvngkevgthpygytpfsfditdyisydkentiavkvdhqtpssrwysgsgiyrsvnitttndvhvdlngikvesnnlekeagktvntdvkttvvngskeeknitithtvfkkgekpdkaigtftteaqeigagkkteisetvpvknpelwsvenpalytirtevkagdklldsydteygfhylnfdtetgfqlngknvklkgvcmhhdqgalgavanrraierqveilqemgcnsirvthnpaskdlievcnekgilvieevfdgwhrakngnsndysvwfekaieednailgkeadmtwaeydikaimkrdqnapsiiewslgneiqegaggsgyaeradklikwakeadatktltigsnavkrgdweqvsigdkltkaggtsatnysdgasydkihkehpdwklygsetassvnsrgiysvtgnqeatsdqqltaydnsrvnwgalasqawydviqrdfvageyvwtgfdyigeptpwngtdpgakgtwpspknsyfgiidtagfpkdsyyfyqsqwneevntlhvlpawnedvvkknsdgtvpvvvysdakevelfftpanggekkslgkktfktettkagysyqviengkkkhkdlymewqvpyeagtleavakdakqnvikdtegrsvvkttgeeeklsaktdrnsiqadgkdlsyitvdvtdkdgnivpdaanrvtfdvqgagklvgvdngsspdhdsykadnrkafsgkvlaivqstekageitvtakadgiesstvkitttpvkeepseryvesykysksyyvktgtkpqlpkkeaqysdrtkedvavkwdeisdeqisktgsftvegtvgkrdityninmiddvaailnysgatqkgvkpqlpdvrpavlpdgtvlaasfpvqwdekdadtfqkpdeivtvngsadifgktipvtasirvqkediklgssvtnvakisqniqgsdtleaikdgktemslnndggpnesawsnwdasqkgtkeaeltftfdtqqrigeivihfakdnnsirfpdagtteifvsetgkdgtwekvevkehlgeekdrvkayryeiapvtatyvkvkvvnanatdtgnrkpctaitevelkkaegsfkvnetaeleevkvgervlpnaayaldsysvpetdaavtaktkdnasltiipkhenvvrmilesedhkatknfavrmgeeetvlpdddsrdypvekitatagseykpgtanegpvkyvldgkaethwhtnwsvsgegskpehrtvtlqlgndeeeapmidairymprsngangryteyeiqysidgdkwqtaatgeidkkqtgwmilgfeepvqakyvrfigthttsdqgndkhmavselrarvateapapsekytitanvndktmgavtldsetgeyekgtkatitavpkegfafvnwtidgqevskenpyihtvetdatitanferievenegwvqtengweyyengqkvvgwkevsgkwyyfeenglmqtgwvfvnnhwyymdqwgamcigwvavdghwyymdqwgamctgwvsvnghwyhmdqwgemqtgwalvdsnwyylntdgsmaigwvavnghwyymdqwgamqtgwalvdsnwyylntdgsmaigwvavnghwyymdqwgamqtgwvlvgsdwyyintdgsmassqwidgyyvdasgkmkSEQ ID NO: 13 is a glycosidase from Ruminococcus lactaris ATCC 29176:mkkkkrctrvgagalaavlavtaagvsvpalaqqavrtesqtqmssdpelvyvnnysstaqrsqnfnsnwkfyfgdagnaqgatfddskweqvslphdysisqeysksmeaesgylgggtgwyrknftlssdtqgkrvridfdgvymnatvwvnghevgthpygytsfsfditdyvkydgentiavkvvnntpssrwysgsgiyrdvdltitddvhvdlngtkvttpnletekgstvntdvtatvandsdaaksvavrhtvfpkdgsadqsigtvttnaqsiaagateelqatvpvsnpelwsvenpslytvrtevlvdgqvtdtydteygfryfnfdsntgfslngenmklkgvcmhhdqgslgaaaydsaldrqvkllkemgcnslrvthnpaaqdlldacneqgilvveeafdtwtrpkngnsndysvwfnqtvasdneilgatngetwaqfdlesmisrdynapsvlmwslgnevmegisggtdaeyeatatklinwaydadntrpmtigdnklkanwqisktfarlltekggtvgfnyadgrvldsyhssnsnwllygsetasalnsrglyyrttgggqtsdkqltsydnsnvgwgatasnawytvltrdfaageyvwtgfdylgeptpwngtgsgavgswpspknsyfglldtagfakdsyyfyqsqwnddvttlhvlpawnnnvvskdssgnvpvvvysdaasvelffqakgsdtktslgkktftqkttdagytyqlyegsdknsttdknlyltwnvpyadgtvsavaynsngqkitdtvgqssvtttgkasklkasadhkkiaadgeslsyitvdvtdangnivpdaenrvkftvegdgelvgvdngsspdhdsyqednrkafsgkvlaivkstkeagtitvtasadgldsasvkitttavdngstekqidsfkmsrtyyvkvgstpelpekivtrytdgtseelpvtwdaitedqiaaagsfqvkgtvkggysvavnvnmldevggllnystntavgvapvlptsrpavlqdgtvmdvtfpvtwedkaasaydkagtvtvngtanvlgkelavtasvrvqeetitigdsysadalnltqsvpadkqsdtlnaikdgsttissntsgganptvwsnydysqdgnttadiifeyateqrlgqivthfardswsmrypdagateiyvspdgtnwakldttetigtesgnvkpytydfapvgatfvkfhltnstqatgttakactgiteielkvatgsrttnttaelqtitvngkevpqtaldskvyttpailaeieatakdnesvtvlpayndviriivesedhqtrntyevrlneaeqttpdsdsrdypvskltasegseqsttgvegpasnakdgdestlwhtrwsapaatsdqlwftyeleeetvldalryiprqgtadgqnngrvneyrvevstdgstwttvstgnwedsqdwklaeftepvaakyvrltgvhtygssaanvdkymsaaeirlrmaesktdiadaangvtvtapdsievakadaenpvmfdlsdivvkagdttirygvdyvisyenntdfgtaklvikgiykgasliyditvnpkkvdptdpdqpdkpdtpdngndngndnngngnnngtddgkkdpgqsgvtdnknqgnnsnngtaagnkanaaaktgdtanmllpmiaamlagtavvgtisirrrrrSEQ ID NO: 14 is the nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 12without the signal sequence:aaagcagatagccaaacacaaatgtcatcagaaccggaacaagttgcggttaaagattatggctcaaatagcgcacgcacacagaattttgatagcgattggaaatttaacctgggagatgttagcaatgcacagacaccgacatttgatgattcaaaatggcgcacactgtcactgccgcatgattatagcatcgaacaggaatattcacaatcactggaagcagaatcaggctatcttccgggaggcgttggctggtatcgcaaaaattttacactgggcgaagaagcgaaaggcaaacgcattcgcattgattttgatggcgtctatatgaatgcaacagtctatgtgaatggcaaagaagttggcacacatccgtatggctatacaccgtttagctttgatatcacagattatatcagctatgataaagaaaacacaattgcggtcaaagtcgatcatcaaacaccgtcatcaagatggtattcaggcagcggcatttatagatcagtcaacctgacaacaacaaatgatgtccatgtcgatctgaatggcattaaagtcgaaagcaacaacctggaaaaagaagcaggcaaaacagtcaacacagatgtgaaaacaacagttgtgaacggctcaaaagaagcgaaaaacatcacaattacacatacagtctttaaaaaaggcgaaaaaccggataaagcgatcggcacatttacaacagaagcgcaagaaattggcgcaggcaaaaaaacagaaatcagcgcaacagtcccggttaaaaatccggaactgtggtcagttgaaaatccggcactgtatacaattcgcacagaagttaaagcaggcgataaactgctggatagctatgatacagaatatggctttcattatctgaactttgatacagaaacaggctttcagctgaatggcaaaaacgttaaactgaaaggcgtttgcatgcatcatgatcaaggcgcacttggcgcagttgcaaatagaagagcaattgaacgccaagtcgaaattctgcaagaaatgggctgcaatagcattagagtcacacataatccggcaagcaaagatctgattgaagtctgcaacgaaaaaggcattctggtcattgaagaagtttttgacggctggcatagagcaaaaaatggcaacagcaacgattatagcgtctggtttgaaaaagcgatcgaagaagataacgcgattctgggaaaagaagcggatatgacttgggcagaatatgatctgaaagcgactatgaaacgcgatcaaaatgcaccgagcattattgaatggtcactgggcaatgaaattcaagaaggcgcaggcggatcaggctatgcagaaagagcggataaactgatcaaatgggcgaaagaagcagacgcaacaaaaacactgacaattggcagcaatgcagttaaaagaggcgattgggaacaagttagcatcggcgataaacttacaaaagcaggcggaacatcaggcacaaattattcagatggcgcatcatatgataaaattcataaagaacatccggattggaaactgtatggctcagaaacagcatcatcagttaatagccgtggcatttattcagttacaggcaatcaagaagcaacaagcgatcaacaactgacagcgtatgataatagcagagttaattggggagcactggcatcacaagcatggtatgatgttatccagagagattttgtcgcaggcgaatatgtttggacaggctttgattatatcggcgaaccgacaccgtggaatggcacagatccgggagcaaaaggcacatggccgtcaccgaaaaacagctactttggcattatcgatacagcaggctttccgaaagattcatattatttttatcagagccagtggaatgaagaagtcaatacactgcacgttcttccggcatggaatgaagatgtcgtcaaaaaaaactcagatggcacagttccggttgttgtttattcagatgcgaaagaagtcgaactgttttttacaccggcaaatggcggagaaaaaaaaagcctgggaaaaaaaacatttaaaacagaaacaacaaaagctggctatagctatcaagttctggaaaacggcaaaaaaaaacataaagatctgtatatggaatggcaagttccgtatgaagcaggcacacttgaagcagttgcgaaagatgcaaaaggcaacgtcattaaagatacagaaggcagaagcgtcgttaaaacaacaggcgaagaagcaaaactgtcagcaaaaacggatcgcaatagcattcaagcagatggcaaagatctgtcatatattacagtcgatgtcacagataaagatggcaatattgttccggatgcagcaaatagagtcacatttgatgtccaaggcgcaggaaaactggttggcgttgataatggctcatcaccggatcatgatagctataaagcggataaccgcaaagcattttcaggcaaagttctggcaattgttcagtcaacagaaaaagcaggcgaaattacagttacagcaaaagcagatggcctggaatcaagcacagtcaaaatcacaacaacaccggttaaagaagaaccgagcgaaagatatgtcgaaagctataaatacagcaaaagctattatgtgaaaacaggcacaaaaccgcaactgccgaaaaaaattgaagcgcagtatagcgatcgcacaaaagaggatgttgcggtcaaatgggatgaaatctcagatgaacaaattagcaaaacaggcagctttacagttgaaggcacagttggcaaaagagatatcacagtcaacattaacatgatcgatgatgttgcagcactgctgaattattcaggcgcaacacaaaaaggcgttaaaccgcaacttccggatgttagaccggcagttctgcctgatggcacagtcctggcagcatcatttccggttcagtgggatgaaaaagatgcggatacatttcagaaaccggatgaaattgttacagttaacggcagcgcagatatctttggcaaaacaattccggttacagcaagcattagagtgcagaaagaagatatcaaaattggcagcagcgttacaaatgttgcaaaactgagccaaaatattcaaggcagcgatacactggaagcaatcaaagatggcaaaacagaaatgagcctgaataatgatggcggaccgaatgaatcagcatggtcaaattgggatgcatcacagaaaggcacaaaagaagccgaactgacatttacatttgatacacagcaacgcattggcgaaattgtcattcattttgcgaaagataacaactcaatcagatttccggatgctggcacaacagaaatctttgtttcagaaacaggcaaagatggcacatgggaaaaagttgaagtcaaagagcatattggcgaagaaaaagatcgcgtcaaagcatatcgctatgaaattgcaccggttacagcgacatatgttaaagttaaagtcgtcaatgcgaacgcgacagatacaggcaatagaaaaccgtgcacagcaattacagaagtcgaactgaaaaaagcagaaggcagctttaaagtcaacgaaacagcagaactggaagaagttaaagttggcgaacgtgttctgccgaatgcagcatatgcactggattcatattcagttccggaaacggatgcagcagttacagcaaaaacaaaagataatgcgagcctgacaatcctgccgaaacatgaaaatgtcgtcagaatgattctggaaagcgaagaccataaagcgacgaaaaactttgcagttagaatgggcgaagaagaaacagttctgccggatgatgattcaagagattatccggtcgaaaaaatcacagcaacaccaggctcagaatataaaccgggaacagcaaatgaaggaccggttaaatatgttctggatggcaaagcagaaacacattggcatacaaattggtcagtttcaggcgaaggctcaaaaccggaacatagaacagttacactgcaactgggcaatgatgaagaagaagcaccgatgattgacgcactgagatatatgccgagatcaaatggcgcaaatggcagagttacggaatatgaaattcagtatagcctggatggcgataaatggcaaacagcagcaacaggcgaaatcgataaaaaacaaacaggctagatgatcctgggctttgaagaaccggttcaagcaaaatatgtccgctttattggcacacatacaacatcagatcagggcaatgataaacatatggcagtttcagaactgaqagcaagagttgcaacagaagcaccggcaccgtcagagaagtatacaattacagcgaacgtcaacgataaaacaatgggagcagttacacttgatagcgaaacaggcgaatatgaaaaaggcacgaaagcaacactgacagcagttccgaaagaaggctttgcatttgtcaactggacaattgatggccaagaagtctcaaaagaaaacccgtatatccatacagttgaaacggatgcgacaatcacagcgaattttgaacgcattgaagtcgaaaatgaaggctgggttcaaacagaaaatggctgggaatattatgagaatggccaaaaagttgtcggctggaaagaagtttcaggcaaatggtactactttgaagaaaatggcctgatgcaaacaggatgggtctttgttaacaaccattggtattatatggatcaggtggggggcaatgtgcattggctgggttgcagttgatggccattggtactacatggaccaatggggtgctatgtgtacaggctgggttagcgtcaatggacattggtatcatatggaccaatggggagccatgcaaacaggctgggcactggttgattcaaattggtattacctgaatacggatggctcaatggcaattggatgggtcgcagtgaacggccactggtattacatggatcaatggggagctatgcagacgggatgggctcttgttgatagcaactggtattatcttaacacagatggcagcatggcaatcggctgggtggcggttaatggacactggtactatatggatcaatggggtgcaatgcagacaggctgggttctggtcggcagcgattggtactatttaaacacggatggatctatggcatcaagccaatggattgatggctattatgttgatgcaagcggcaagatgaagSEQ ID NO: 15 is the nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 13 withoutthe signal sequence:gcaggcgtttcagttccggcactggcacaacaagcagttagaacagaaagccaaacacaaatgtcatcagatccggaactggtctatgtgaataactatagcagcacagcacaaagaagccagaactttaacagcaactggaaattctacttcggagatgcgggaaatgcacaaggcgcaacatttgatgatagcaaatgggaacaagtttcactgccgcatgattattcaatcagccaagaatatagcaaatcaatggaagcagaatcaggctatcttggcggaggcacaggctggtatcgcaaaaattttacactgagcagcgatacacaaggcaaaagagtccgcattgattttgatggcgtctatatgaatgcaacagtttgggttaatggccatgaagttggcacacatccgtatggctatacaagctttagctttgatatcacagattatgtgaaatatgatggcgaaaacacaattgcagtcaaagtcgtcaataatacaccgtcaagcagatggtattcaggctcaggcatttatagagatgtcgatctgacaatcacagatgatgttcatgttgatctgaacggcacaaaagttacaacaccgaacctggaaacagaaaaaggcagcacagtcaatacagatgttacagcaacagttgcgaatgattcagatgcagcaaaatcagttgcagttcgccatacagtttttccgaaagatggcagcgcagatcaatcaattggcacagtcacaacaaatgcacaatcaattgcagcaggcgcaacagcagaaattcaagcaacggttccggtttcaaatcctgaactgtggtcagttgaaaatccgtcactgtatacagtcagaacagaagttctggtcgacggccaagtcacagatacatatgatacagaatatggctttcgctattttaactttgatagcaacacaggcttttcactgaatggcgaaaatatgaaactgaaaggcgtctgcatgcatcatgatcaaggctcacttggcgcagcagcatacgactcagcaattgatcgccaggtcaaaatcctgaaagaaatgggctgcaatagcattagagtcacacataatccggcagcacaagatctgattgatgcgtgcaatgaacaaggcattctggttgttgaagaagcgtttgatacttggacaagaccgaaaaatggcaacagcaacgattatagcgtctggtttaatcagacagttgcgagcgataatgaaattctgggagcgacaaatggcgaaacatgggcacaatttgatctggaaagcatgatctcacargattataatgcaccgtcagtcattatgtggtcactgggcaatgaagttatggaaggcattagcggaggcacagatgcagaatatgaagcgacagcgacgaaactgattaactgggcgtatgatgcggataatacacgtccgatgacaattggcgataacaaactgaaagcgaactggcagatctcaaaaacatttgcgagactgctgacagaaaaaggcggaacagtgggctttaattatgcagatggcagagttctggattcatatcatagcagcaatagcaattggctgctgtatggctcagaaacagcatcagcgattaatagccgtggcatctattatagaacaacaggcggaggccaaacatcagataaacagctgacaagctatgataattcaaatgttggctggggagcaacagcatcaaatgcatggtatacagttctgacaagagattttgcggcaggcgaatatgtttggacaggctttgattatctgggcgaaccgacaccgtggaatggcacaggcccaggcgcagttggctcatggccgtcaccgaaaaattcttattttggcattatcgatacagcaggcttcgcaaaagatagctattatttttatcagagccagtggaatgatgatgttacaacactgcatgttcttccggcatggaataataatgtcgtcagcaaagattcatcaggcaatgttccggttgttgtttattcagatgcggcatcagtcgaactgttttttcaagcaaaaggcagcgatacaaaaacaagcctgggcaaaaaaacatttacacagaaaacaacagacgcaggctatacatatcagatctatgaaggctcagataaaaacagcacaacagacaaaaacctgtatctgacatggaatgttccgtatgcagatggaacagtttcagcagttgcgtataatagcaacggccagaaaattacagatacagttggccagtcctcagttacaacaacaggcaaagcgtcaaaactgaaagcatcagcggatcataaaaaaattgcagcggatggcgaatcactgtcatatatcacagtcgatgtcacagatgcgaatggcaatattgttccggatgcagaaaatcgcgtcaaatttacagttgaaggcgatggcgaactggttggcgttgataatggctcatcaccggatcatgattcatatcaagcggataaccgcaaagcattttcaggcaaagttctggcaattgtgaaaagcacaaaagaagctggcacaattacagttacagcatcagcagatggcctggattcagcatcagtcaaaatcacaacaacagcagtcgataatggcagcacagaaaaacaaatcgatagctttaaaatgagccgcacatattatgttaaagttggcagcacaccggaactgccggaaaaaattgtcacacgctatacagatggcacatcagaagaactgcctgttacttgggatgcaattacagaagatcaaattgcagcagcaggctcatttcaagttaaaggcacagtcaaaggcggatattcagttgcagtcaacgtcaacatgattgatgaagttggcggactgctgaattattcaacaaatacagcagttggcgttgcaccggttctgccgacatcaagaccggcagttctgcaagatggcacagttatggatgttacatttccggtcacatgggaagataaagcagcaagcgcatatgataaagcaggcacagtgacagtcaatggcacagcaaatgttctgggcaaagaaattgcagttacagcgagcgttagagttcaggaagaaacaatcacaattggagattcagtttcagcggatgcactgaatctgacacaaagcgttccggcagataaacaaagcgatacactgaacgcaattaaagatggctcaacaacaattagctcaaatacaagcggaggcgcaaatccgacagtttggagcaactatgactatagccaggatggcaatacgacagcggatatcatttttgaatatgcgacagaacaaagactgggccaaatcgttacacattttgcgagagatagctggtcaatgagatatcctgatgcaggcgctacagaaatttatgtctcaccggatggcacaaattgggcaaaactggatacaacagaaacaattggcacagaaagcggcaatgttaaaccgtatacatatgattttgcaccggttggcgcaacatttgttaaatttcatctgacaaacagcacacaagcaacaggcacaacagcaaaagcatgcacaggcattacagaaattgaactgaaagttgcaacaggctcacgcacaacaaatacaacagcagaactgcaaacactgacagttaatggcaaagaagttccgcaaacagcactggatagcaaagtttatacaacaccggcaattctggcagaaattgaagcaacagcgaaagataatgcaagcgttacagttcttccggcatataatgatgtcattcgcattattgtcgaaagcgaagatcatcaaacacgcaatacatatgaagtcagactgaatgaagcggaacaaacaacaccggattcagattcaagagattatccggttagcaaactgacagcatcagcaggctcagaacaatcaacaacaggcgttgaaggaccggcatcaaatgcaaaagacggtgatgaatcaacactgtggcatacaagatggtcagcaccggcagcaacatcagatcaactgtggtttacatatgaactggaagaagaaacggtactggacgcactgagatatctgccgagacaaggcacagcagatggccaaaataatggcagagttaatgaatatcgcgtcgaagttagcacagatggcagcacatggacaacagtttcaacaggcaattgggaagatagccaagattggaaactggcagaatttacagaaccggttgcagcaaaatatgtcagactgacaggcgttcatacatatggctcatcagcagcaaacgtcgataaatacatgagcgcagcagaaattagactgagaatggcagaaagcaaaacggatattgcagatgcagcaaatggcgttacagctacagcaccggattcaattgaagttgcaaaagcagatgcagaaaacccggttatgtttgatctgagcgatattgttgtcaaagcaggcgatacaacactgagatatggcgttgattatgtcattagctatgaaaacaacacagattttggcacagcgaaactggtcattaaaggcattgatggctatacaggcacactggaacatgaattcacaatcacgcagaaagccaaagtcatgacaggcatcacatggaatacaaaaccggaaaaagtcatttatacggaaggtgaaacgctggatgttacaggcctggttattaatgtcgtctatgatgatgatagcacagaagcagttgcatatagcgaagcaaatgcggatgaatttacattttcaccggcactggatacaaaactggcagcgacagataaaacagtcacagttacatataaaggcgcaagcctgatttatgatattacagtcaacccgaaaaaagtcgatccgacagatccggatcagcctgataaaccggatacaccggataatggcaatgataacggcaacgataataatggcaacggcaataacaacggcacagatgatggcaaaaaagatccgggacaatcaggcgttacagataacaaaaatcagggcaataacagcaataatggaacagcagcaggcaataaagcaaatgcagcagcaaaaacaggcgatacagcaaatatgctgttgccgatgattgcagcaatgctggcaggcacagcagttgttggcacaatttcaattcgcagacgcagacgcSEQ ID NO: 16 is the nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 1:aaagcagatagccaaacacaaatgtcatcagaaccggaacaagttgcggttaaagattatggctcaaatagcgcacgcacacagaattttgatagcgattggaaatttaacctgggagatgttagcaatgcacagacaccgacatttgatgattcaaaatggcgcacactgtcactgccgcatgattatagcatcgaacaggaatattcacaatcactggaagcagaatcaggctatcttccgggaggcgttggctggtatcgcaaaaattttacactgggcgaagaagcgaaaggcaaacgcattcgcattgattttgatggcgtctatatgaatgcaacagtctatgtgaatggcaaagaagttggcacacatccgtatggctatacaccgtttagctttgatatcacagattatatcagctatgataaagaaaacacaattgcggtcaaagtcgatcatcaaacaccgtcatcaagatggtattcaggcagcggcatttatagatcagtcaacctgacaacaacaaatgatgtccatgtcgatctgaatggcattaaagtcgaaagcaacaacctggaaaaagaagcaggcaaaacagtcaacacagatgtgaaaacaacagttgtgaacggctcaaaagaagcgaaaaacatcacaattacacatacagtctttaaaaaaggcgaaaaaccggataaagcgatcggcacatttacaacagaagcgcaagaaattggcgcaggcaaaaaaacagaaatcagcgcaacagtcccggttaaaaatccggaactgtggtcagttgaaaatccggcactgtatacaattcgcacagaagttaaagcaggcgataaactgctggatagctatgatacagaatatggctttcattatctgaactttgatacagaaacaggctttcagctgaatggcaaaaacgttaaactgaaaggcgtttgcatgcatcatgatcaaggcgcacttggcgcagttgcaaatagaagagcaattgaacgccaagtcgaaattctgcaagaaatgggctgcaatagcattagagtcacacataatccggcaagcaaagatctgattgaagtctgcaacgaaaaaggcattctggtcattgaagaagtttttgacggctggcatagagcaaaaaatggcaacagcaacgattatagcgtctggtttgaaaaagcgatcgaagaagataacgcgattctgggaaaagaagcggatatgacttgggcagaatatgatctgaaagcgattatgaaacgcgatcaaaatgcaccgagcattattgaatggtcactgggcaatgaaattcaagaaggcgcaggcggatcaggctatgcagaaagagcggataaactgatcaaatgggcgaaagaagcagacgcaacaaaaacactgacaattggcagcaatgcagttaaaagaggcgattgggaacaagttagcatcggcgataaacttacaaaagcaggcggaacatcaggcacaaattattcagatggcgcatcatatgataaaattcataaagaacatccggattggaaactgtatggctcagaaacagcatcatcagttaatagccgtggcatttattcagttacaggcaatcaagaagcaacaagcgatcaacaactgacagcgtatgataatagcagagttaattggggagcactggcatcacaagcatggtatgatgttatccagagagattttgtcgcaggcgaatatgtttggacaggctttgattatatcggcgaaccgacaccgtggaatggcacagatccgggagcaaaaggcacatggccgtcaccgaaaaacagctactttggcattatcgatacagcaggctttccgaaagattcatattatttttatcagagccagtggaatgaagaagtcaatacactgcacgttcttccggcatggaatgaagatgtcgtcaaaaaaaactcagatggcacagttccggttgttgtttattcagatgcgaaagaagtcgaactgttttttacaccggcaaatggcggagaaaaaaaaagcctgggaaaaaaaacatttaaaacagaaacaacaaaagctggctatagctatcaagttctggaaaacggcaaaaaaaaacataaagatctgtatatggaatggcaagttccgtatgaagcaggcacacttgaagcagttgcgaaagatgcaaaaggcaacgtcattaaagatacagaaggcagaagcgtcgttaaaacaacaggcgaagaagcaaaactgtcagcaaaaacggatcgcaatagcattcaagcagatggcaaagatctgtcatatattacagtcgatgtcacagataaagatggcaatattgttccggatgcagcaaatagagtcacatttgatgtccaaggcgcaggaaaactggttggcgttgataatggctcatcaccggatcatgatagctataaagcggataaccgcaaagcattttcaggcaaagttctggcaattgttcagtcaacagaaaaagcaggcgaaattacagttacagcaaaagcagatggcctggaatcaagcacagtcaaaatcacaacaacaccggttaaagaagaaccgagcgaaagatatgtcgaaagctataaatacagcaaaagctattatgtgaaaacaggcacaaaaccgcaactgccgaaaaaaattgaagcgcagtatagcgatcgcacaaaagaggatgttgcggtcaaatgggatgaaatctcagatgaacaaattagcaaaacaggcagctttacagttgaaggcacagttggcaaaagagatatcacagtcaacattaacatgatcgatgatgttgcagcactgctgaattattcaggcgcaacacaaaaaggcgttaaaccgcaacttccggatgttagaccggcagttctgcctgatggcacagtcctggcagcatcatttccggttcagtgggatgaaaaagatgcggatacatttcagaaaccggatgaaattgttacagttaacggcagcgcagatatctttggcaaaacaattccggttacagcaagcattagagtgcagaaagaagatatcaaaattggcagcagcgttacaaatgttgcaaaactgagccaaaatattcaaggcagcgatacactggaagcaatcaaagatggcaaaacagaaatgagcctgaataatgatggcggaccgaatgaatcagcatggtcaaattgggatgcatcacagaaaggcacaaaagaagccgaactgacatttacatttgatacacagcaacgcattggcgaaattgtcattcattttgcgaaagataacaactcaatcagatttccggatgctggcacaacagaaatcSEQ ID NO: 17 is the nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 2:gcaggcgtttcagttccggcactggcacaacaagcagttagaacagaaagccaaacacaaatgtcatcagatccggaactggtctatgtgaataactatagcagcacagcacaaagaagccagaactttaacagcaactggaaattctacttcggagatgcgggaaatgcacaaggcgcaacatttgatgatagcaaatgggaacaagtttcactgccgcatgattattcaatcagccaagaatatagcaaatcaatggaagcagaatcaggctatcttggcggaggcacaggctggtatcgcaaaaattttacactgagcagcgatacacaaggcaaaagagtccgcattgattttgatggcgtctatatgaatgcaacagtttgggttaatggccatgaagttggcacacatccgtatggctatacaagctttagctttgatatcacagattatgtgaaatatgatggcgaaaacacaattgcagtcaaagtcgtcaataatacaccgtcaagcagatggtattcaggctcaggcatttatagagatgtcgatctgacaatcacagatgatgttcatgttgatctgaacggcacaaaagttacaacaccgaacctggaaacagaaaaaggcagcacagtcaatacagatgttacagcaacagttgcgaatgattcagatgcagcaaaatcagttgcagttcgccatacagtttttccgaaagatggcagcgcagatcaatcaattggcacagtcacaacaaatgcacaatcaattgcagcaggcgcaacagcagaaattcaagcaacggttccggtttcaaatcctgaactgtggtcagttgaaaatccgtcactgtatacagtcagaacagaagttctggtcgacggccaagtcacagatacatatgatacagaatatggctttcgctattttaactttgatagcaacacaggcttttcactgaatggcgaaaatatgaaactgaaaggcgtctgcatgcatcatgatcaaggctcacttggcgcagcagcatacgactcagcaattgatcgccaggtcaaaatcctgaaagaaatgggctgcaatagcattagagtcacacataatccggcagcacaagatctgattgatgcgtgcaatgaacaaggcattctggttgttgaagaagcgtttgatacttggacaagaccgaaaaatggcaacagcaacgattatagcgtctggtttaatcagacagttgcgagcgataatgaaattctgggagcgacaaatggcgaaacatgggcacaatttgatctggaaagcatgatctcacgcgattataatgcaccgtcagtcattatgtggtcactgggcaatgaagttatggaaggcattagcggaggcacagatgcagaatatgaagcgacagcgacgaaactgattaactgggcgtatgatgcggataatacacgtccgatgacaattggcgataacaaactgaaagcgaactggcagatctcaaaaacatttgcgagactgctgacagaaaaaggcggaacagtgggctttaattatgcagatggcagagttctggattcatatcatagcagcaatagcaattggctgctgtatggctcagaaacagcatcagcgattaatagccgtggcatctattatagaacaacaggcggaggccaaacatcagataaacagctgacaagctatgataattcaaatgttggctggggagcaacagcatcaaatgcatggtatacagttctgacaagagattttgcggcaggcgaatatgtttggacaggctttgattatctgggcgaaccgacaccgtggaatggcacaggctcaggcgcagttggctcatggccgtcaccgaaaaattcttattttggcattatcgatacagcaggcttcgcaaaagatagctattatttttatcagagccagtggaatgatgatgttacaacactgcatgttcttccggcatggaataataatgtcgtcagcaaagattcatcaggcaatgttccggttgttgtttattcagatgcggcatcagtcgaactgttttttcaagcaaaaggcagcgatacaaaaacaagcctgggcaaaaaaacatttacacagaaaacaacagacgcaggctatacatatcagatctatgaaggctcagataaaaacagcacaacagacaaaaacctgtatctgacatggaatgttccgtatgcagatggaacagtttcagcagttgcgtataatagcaacggccagaaaattacagatacagttggccagtcctcagttacaacaacaggcaaagcgtcaaaactgaaagcatcagcggatcataaaaaaattgcagcggatggcgaatcactgtcatatatcacagtcgatgtcacagatgcgaatggcaatattgttccggatgcagaaaatcgcgtcaaatttacagttgaaggcgatggcgaactggttggcgttgataatggctcatcaccggatcatgattcatatcaagcggataaccgcaaagcattttcaggcaaagttctggcaattgtgaaaagcacaaaagaagctggcacaattacagttacagcatcagcagatggcctggattcagcatcagtcaaaatcacaacaacagcagtcgataatggcagcacagaaaaacaaatcgatagctttaaaatgagccgcacatattatgttaaagttggcagcacaccggaactgccggaaaaaattgtcacacgctatacagatggcacatcagaagaactgcctgttacttgggatgcaattacagaagatcaaattgcagcagcaggctcatttcaagttaaaggcacagtcaaaggcggatattcagttgcagtcaacgtcaacatgattgatgaagttggcggactgctgaattattcaacaaatacagcagttggcgttgcaccggttctgccgacatcaagaccggcagttctgcaagatggcacagttatggatgttacatttccggtcacatgggaagataaagcagcaagcgcatatgataaagcaggcacagtgacagtcaatggcacagcaaatgttctgggcaaagaaattgcagttacagcgagcgttagagttcaggaagaaacaatcacaattggagattcagtttcagcggatgcactgaatctgacacaaagcgttccggcagataaacaaagcgatacactgaacgcaattaaagatggctcaacaacaattagctcaaatacaagcggaggcgcaaatccgacagtttggagcaactatgactatagccaggatggcaatacgacagcggatatcatttttgaatatgcgacagaacaaagactgggccaaatcgttacacattttgcgagagatagctggtcaatgagatatcctgatgcaggcgctacagaaatttatgtc

1. An isolated polypeptide having transgalactosylating activity selectedfrom the group consisting of: a. a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence having at least 66% sequence identity to the amino acidsequence of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, b. a polypeptidecomprising an amino acid sequence having at least 66% sequence identityto the amino acid sequence of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, c.a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under at leastlow stringency conditions with i) the nucleic acid sequence comprised inSEQ ID NO: 10 encoding the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; ii) thecDNA sequence of i) or iii) the complementary strand of i) or ii); d. apolypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under at leastlow stringency conditions with i) the nucleic acid sequence comprised inSEQ ID NO: 11 encoding the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; ii) thecDNA sequence of i) or iii) the complementary strand of i) or ii); e. apolypeptide comprising a conservative substitution, deletion orinsertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 1, and f. apolypeptide comprising a conservative substitution, deletion orinsertion of one or more amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 2, provided that thepolypeptide of above items a, c, and e at the most has a length of 1806amino acids and provided that the polypeptide of above items b, d, and fat the most has a length of 1767 amino acids.
 2. The polypeptideaccording to claim 1 having a ratio of transgalactosylatingactivity:β-galactosidase activity of at least 1, at least 2.5, at least3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least9, at least 10, at least 11, or at least
 12. 3. The polypeptide of claim1, wherein the amino acid sequence has at least 68%, 70%, 72%, 74%, 76%,78%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%,sequence identity to the mature amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or2.
 4. The polypeptide of claim 1 containing the catalytic domain ofglycosyl hydrolase class 2 (GH 2), containing one or more Pfam domainsselected from: Glyco_hydro2N (PF02837), Glyco_hydro (PF00703),Glyco_hydro 2C (PF02836) and Bacterial Ig-like domain (group 4)(PF07532).
 5. The polypeptide of claim 1 comprising or consisting of theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 6. The polypeptide of claim 1 beinga fragment of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
 12. 7. Thepolypeptide of claim 1 comprising of the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO:
 8. The polypeptide of claim 1 being a fragment of the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
 13. 9. The polypeptide of claim 1, which isderived from Ruminococcus hansenii or Ruminococcus lactaris.
 10. Thenucleic acid capable of encoding the polypeptide of claim
 1. 11. Anexpression vector comprising a nucleic acid capable of expressing thepolypeptide of claim
 1. 12. A cell capable of expressing the polypeptideof claim
 1. 13. A method of expressing a polypeptide, the methodcomprising obtaining a cell and expressing the polypeptide of claim 1from the cell, and purifying the polypeptide.
 14. A compositioncomprising the polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the composition is a foodcomposition comprising a dairy product.
 15. A method for producing afood product by treating a substrate comprising lactose with thepolypeptide of claim
 1. 16. A method of producing a dairy product bytreating a milk-based substrate comprising lactose with the polypeptideof claim
 1. 17. The method of claim 15 further treating the substratewith a hydrolysing beta-galactosidase.
 18. A food product comprising adairy product, comprising a transgalactosylating enzyme obtained fromRuminococcus hansenii or Ruminococcus lactaris, wherein the enzyme isthe polypeptide of claim
 1. 19. A galacto-oligosaccharide or compositionthereof obtained by treating a substrate comprising lactose with thepolypeptide of claim 1.